JuZheng,ChenTing,WangBing,et al.Efficiency and Mechanism of Electrocoagulation Coupled with Magnetic Demulsifier for Treatment of Emulsified Oil Wastewater[J].China Water & Wastewater,2026,42(13):76-83.
Click Copy

Efficiency and Mechanism of Electrocoagulation Coupled with Magnetic Demulsifier for Treatment of Emulsified Oil Wastewater

China Water & Wastewater[ISSN:1000-4062/CN:12-1073/TU] volume: 第42卷 Number: 第13期 Page: 76-83 Column: Date of publication: 2026-07-01
Author(s):
Ju　Zheng1;  Chen　Ting2;  Wang　Bing1;  Yao　Meng3;  Ran　Zhilin3
（1. School of Municipal and Environmental Engineering， Shenyang Jianzhu University， Shenyang 110168， China； 2. Zhanjiang Yuehai Water Investment Group Co. Ltd.， Zhanjiang 524033， China； 3. School of Traffic and Environment， Shenzhen University of Information Technology， Shenzhen 518172， China）
Keywords:
emulsified oil wastewater;  electrocoagulation;  magnetic demulsifier;  COMSOL simulation;  interfacial tension
Abstract:
To overcome the issues of low efficiency, long processing time, and high energy consumption in the treatment of emulsified oil wastewater by electrocoagulation, this study developed a novel magnetic demulsifier (PCNF) using nano-Fe3O4 as the coagulation core, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) as the binder, and polyferric sulfate (PFS) as the raw material, thereby forming a combined system of electrocoagulation and magnetic demulsifier. The experimental results showed that, compared to traditional coagulants, the combination of electrochemistry and PCNF exhibited higher decontamination efficiency. The optimal dosage of PCNF was 2.0 g/L, resulting in the residual COD concentration of 43 mg/L and the oil content reduced to 3.72 mg/L in the emulsified oil wastewater. Further optimization of the PCNF dosage, by adjusting the addition strategy to 1.5 g/L PCNF + 0.5 g/L calcium chloride, resulted in the residual COD concentration of 46 mg/L and the oil content of 5.08 mg/L, while the electrolysis time was shortened to 90 min. Compared to using PCNF alone, the cost was significantly reduced, achieving efficient demulsification and oil removal while also realizing cost savings. Using COMSOL software to simulate the aggregation of emulsified oil droplets, it was found that under the influence of an electric field, the demulsification of oil droplets depended on the electric field strength and the oil-water interfacial tension. The addition of the demulsifier could reduce the oil-water interfacial tension, thereby promoting oil droplet aggregation and accelerating the demulsification process.
Last Update: 2026-07-01