In the present work, electrocoagulation process (EC) with aluminum and iron as materials for anode and stainless steel as cathode, under different operational parameters, such as: initial concentration of oil, distance between electrodes, area-volume relation (SA/V) and current density, were examined in a systematic manner. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity removals were selected as a performance criteria. Tests were carried out batch-wise in an electrochemical cell (5.1 liter) with synthetic wastewater and with magnetic stirring (150 rpm); the current density and SA/V relation were found to be the most significant parameters, an increase of theses notably reduces the electrocoagulation required time for the treatment. The results have shown that electrocoagulation, using both kind of materials (Fe/Al), successfully removes the COD and turbidity in experimental conditions such as: the current density, 9.4 mA/cm(2), distance between electrodes, 10 mm; SA/V relation, 30.35 m(2)/m(3) and 30 minutes of operation . Removal efficiencies over 99% and 98.3% were measured for COD and turbidity, using anodes of aluminum. Likewise 94.8% of COD and 98.5% of turbidity were removed from synthetic wastewater, using anode of iron. Electrocoagulation process operated under theses conditions involves a total cost of 7.1 R$/m(3) for aluminum and 5 R$/m(3) for iron per meter cubic of treated wastewater. These costs only include energy cost and electrode consumptions. The sludge produced after electrocoagulation treatment was 2.23 kg/m(3) for aluminum and 2.76 kg/m(3) for iron, and the power requirements were 4.15 kWh/m(3) and 3.72 kWh/m(3) for aluminum and iron. An electrocoagulation treatment of a synthetic wastewater was successfully implemented from removal efficiency point of view.