EFFECT OF FERRIHYDRITE-CHITOSAN NANOCOMPOSITES PRECURSOR RATIO ON PALM OIL MILL EFFLUENT PRE-TREATMENT

Juliana Jumadi; Azlan Kamari; Wan Haslinda  Wan Ahmad; Norlaili Abu Bakar; Budi  Hastuti; Is  Fatimah; Eli  Rohaeti

Juliana Jumadi Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, 35900, Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8808-3557
Azlan Kamari Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, 35900, Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia.
Wan Haslinda Wan Ahmad Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, 35900, Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia.
Norlaili Abu Bakar Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, 35900, Tanjong Malim, Perak, Malaysia.
Budi Hastuti Department of Chemistry Education, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Jl. Ir. Sutami 36A, Kentingan Surakarta 57126, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1236-8932
Is Fatimah Nanomaterials and Sustainable Chemistry Research Centre, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Chemistry Research Building, Kampus Terpadu UII, Jl. Kaliurang Km 14, Sleman, Yogyakarta 55584, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5551-6563
Eli Rohaeti Department of Chemistry Education, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0930-732X

Keywords: Chitosan, ferrihydrite, ferrihydrite-chitosan nanocomposites, flocculant, palm oil mill effluent treatment

Abstract

Statistically, it has been estimated that more than 0.50 tonnes of palm oil mill effluent (POME) will be generated for each tonne of fresh fruit bunches (FFBs) production. Fresh POME normally possesses a high amount of total solid, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), oil and grease (O&G). Therefore, POME treatment has received great attention from environmental scientists. In this study, ferrihydrite-chitosan (FC) nanocomposites were prepared using a simple co-precipitation method by varying the ratio of ferrihydrite and chitosan. The influence of precursor ratios (1:1, 2:1 and 1:2 w/w) of FC nanocomposites on palm oil mill effluent pre-treatment was investigated in flocculation studies at optimum experimental conditions. The characteristics of FC nanocomposites, before and after POME treatment were studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometer and optical polarising microscope (OPM) analyses. The results indicate that the 1:1 w/w FC nanocomposite exhibited the highest percentage of contaminant reduction at 82.63 %, 75.70 %, 74.07 % and 49.08 % for total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity, COD, and O&G removal, respectively. The synergistic effects between ferrihydrite and chitosan precursors highlight the potential of the FC nanocomposites as promising flocculants for POME. Overall, this research is relevant to POME management and treatment, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia the two major palm oil producers in the world. Moreover, research findings support the sixth Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations, namely Clean Water and Sanitation.