This study evaluated a photo-electrochemical (PEC) treatment system using 1.6% curcumin as a photosensitizer to disinfect poultry processing wastewater from scalding and inside-outside bird washer (IOBW) systems, testing two reactor sizes (7-L and 30-L) at 70 and 100 V over 300 minutes. Aerobic bacterial populations were reduced by 2.0 to 2.9 log CFU/mL, with 100 V treatment reducing counts below the regulatory threshold for wastewater reuse, while Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, and E. coli were eliminated; statistical differences between voltage levels were not always significant. Most notably, Salmonella and Campylobacter were eliminated within 150 minutes across all tested conditions. This suggests PEC treatment may offer a viable alternative to chlorine-based disinfectants while supporting water reuse and environmental sustainability, though economic feasibility, scalability, and long-term operational stability under commercial conditions require further investigation.
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