Performance of Fenugreek and Okra for the Physico-Chemical Treatment of Palm Oil Mill Effluent – Modeling using Response Surface Methodology

Miinyi Khoo; Vasanthi Sethu; Anurita  Selvarajoo; Senthil Kumar Arumugasamy

Authors

Miinyi Khoo Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
Vasanthi Sethu Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia
Anurita Selvarajoo Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7765-9565
Senthil Kumar Arumugasamy Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia

Keywords:

Bio-coagulation; Bio-flocculation; Fenugreek; Okra; Palm Oil Mill Effluent; Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is an odorous dark brownish solution that has high total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity (TUR) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). In this study, performance of fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-graecum) and okra (Abelmoschus Esculentus (L.)) as a bio-coagulant and bio-flocculant respectively, were investigated for the treatment of POME. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum operating conditions for the bio-coagulant-flocculant in terms of pH, dosage and rapid mixing speed via Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Percentage removal of TSS, TUR and COD were measured. The study indicated that the optimum conditions to be 4.1 g/L of fenugreek, 58 ml of okra/500 ml POME and 197 rpm rapid mixing speed at pH 3.2 to obtain TSS, TUR and COD removal efficiencies of 92.7%, 94.97% and 63.11%, respectively. From the study, it is clearly showed that the combination of fenugreek and okra have the potential to be used as bio-coagulant-flocculant for the physico-chemical treatment of POME.

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