Treatment of wastewaters from camping and from isolated residences using electrocoagulation process

The increase of dispersed residences ( such as campings, hotels, and tourist resorts, etc.) not connected to centralized treatment systems pushes managers and scientists to develop small systems for the treatment of wastewaters coming from camping and isolated residences (domestic wastewaters). These wastewaters are conventionnaly treated by septic tank used as primary treatment. After this step, the supernatant is sent to a purification field. Characterized by a wide range of organic, inorganic and microbial pollutants ((PT >14 mg/L, MES > 176 mg/L, NT > 79 mg/L, etc.), these insufficienly treated domestic effluents constitute one of the main environmental contamination sources. Therefore, in order to generate domestic effluents suitable for discharge, E2metrix Inc has developed the ECOTHOR-6R systems. This electrolytic process using sacrificial electrodes (Al or Fe), is very effective for removing colloidal particles and liquid insoluble pollutions (oils and fat). This system can be also used for phosphorus and organic pollution (in form of colloid particles) removal in order to respect the legislation standard set by the province of Quebec. It is worth noting that ECOTHOR can be advantageously applied simultaneously with an electro-oxydatif technique (method ECOTHOR-OXY). This combined system is expected to meet faster environmental objectives discharge of such effluent.The first step will be to test the process at the laboratory scale using ECOTHOR et ECOTHOR-OXYsystems for a period of 6 to 12 months (Activity I) in order to characterize the wastewater samples and to study the different operating parameters (current density, inter-electrodes distance, treatment time, etc.). The second step will be carried out at the preindustrial scale on site for the treatment of 5 to 10 m3/day (Activity II) in order to define the scale-up parameters (ratio volume/electrodes area, current density, electricity amount, etc.). The last step will be to achieve a techno-economic study (Activity III) for a period of 3 to 4 months. The electrochemical systems are characterized by their non-polluting aspects (reducing the use of chemical reagents) and their automation facility. Finally, the ultimate goal of this project is to develop an effective process for the treatment of domestic wastewater for preindustrial scale applications.