Greywater Treatment Using Electro-Coagulation Combined with Vacuum Membrane Distillation

Effective treatment of greywater, defined as domestic wastewater excluding toilet flows, is critical in promoting sustainable water reuse. This chapter examines the integration of electrocoagulation (EC) and vacuum membrane distillation (VMD) as a comprehensive approach to managing greywater treatment. Exploring greywater characteristics emphasizes its variability in quality due to household practices. The significant concentration of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) present in greywater causes membrane wetting in VMD systems. The results indicated that EC effectively pre-treats greywater, removing contaminants and ultimately leading to improved treatment performance when followed by a hydrophobic membrane. This research's findings show that the EC process achieved a maximum COD and LAS removal efficiency of 77.5% and 80.8%, respectively, at a current of 6 Amps, significantly enhancing water quality. Additionally, the study recorded a turbidity reduction of up to 88%, highlighting the effectiveness of EC in eliminating suspended solids. Evaporation and distillation process through VMD produced pure water as a result. This combined process represents a promising solution for greywater reuse, addressing environmental concerns related to wastewater management and freshwater scarcity. By optimizing treatment strategies, this research contributes to advancing sustainable practices in water management and underscores the importance of integrating innovative technologies for effective greywater treatment systems.