Biofilm-coated macrocomposites for the treatment of high strength agricultural wastewater

Abstract

The processing of palm oil generates highly polluting effluent called palm oil mill effluent (POME). Due to the inefficiency of conventional treatment methods to meet the environmental standard discharge limit, alternative treatment methods could play a positive role in treating POME. In this study, biofilm-coated macrocomposites were used to treat the POME obtained from palm oil industry. Color and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal were the main parameters analyzed in this study. The rate of color removal was examined using the Elovich equation, Pseudo-first-order, and Pseudo-second-order kinetics models. Pseudo-first-order gave the best model equation for color adsorption of POME. The biofilm that was coated on the macrocomposites consisted of a mixed bacterial culture of Brevibacillus panacihumi, Enterococcus faecalis, Lysinibacillus fusiformis, and the newly identified Klebsiella pneumonia (MABZ). All of these bacteria were previously confirmed as bacteria capable of removing color and COD. During the treatment, results showed color reduction of POME up to 92% (initial 3514 ADMI) and COD removal of 93% (initial 888 mg/L) after 6 d of incubation. The color removal and COD reduction of the final POME were enhanced by biofilm-coated macrocomposites.

Keywords:

• Palm oil mill effluent
• Decolorization
• Biofilm
• Adsorption
• Pseudo-first-order kinetics

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their appreciation to the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia for the financial support. This research is funded by the Research University Grant (RUG) VOT 01H62.