23-01-2013, 10:47 AM
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM COCONUT SHELL
AS WASTEWATER POLLUTANT REMOVAL
1THE EFFECTIVENESS.PDF (Size: 1.05 MB / Downloads: 157)
ABSTRACT
Nowadays, water quality has become the popthar Issue as best quality water Is
needed for their daily lives. There are many types of treatment to improve water
quality and one of them is by using activated carbon. The purpose of this study is to
identify the effectiveness of activated carbon from coconut shell as wastewater
pollutant removal. The needs to -identify the most effective and suitable characteristics
of activated carbon are important because it defines the best alternative and at the
same its efficiency in wastewater treatment. To identify the effectiveness of activated
carbon, the wastewater samples were checked for influent and effluent wastewater.
Samples were taken from drainage systems near Kolej Kediaman 3 before the
domestic wastewater was discharged to the near river. The wastewater samples then
were treated wing activated carbon with different size (granular, powdered) and
quantity (50g, lOOg, and 200g). After analyzing the water quality based on seven
parameters, all of samples (G50, G100, G200, P50, P 100, and P200) showed the
improvement in removing wastewater pollutant due to its removal efficiency. Among
of the six samples, powdered activated caii,on of 200g (P200) gave the most effective
results compared to other samples due to its highest removal efficiency. From the
result obtained, it showed that activated carbon have potentials to be used as a filter
medium in removing wastewater pollutant. This study had also lead to many
recommendations in order to improve fhe potential of activated carbon as a wastewater
pollutant removal.
INTRODUCTION
General
Water is a common chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life.
Availability of water for cleansing is directly to control or elimination of disease. While
the world's population tripled in the 20th century, the use of renewable water resources
has grown six-fold. Within the next fifty years, the world population will increase by
another 40 to 50%. This population growth, coupled with industrialization and
urbanization will result in an increasing demand for water and will have serious
consequences on the environment (World Water Council, 2008).
Water covers about two-thirds of the earth's surface. But most is too salty for use.
Only 2.5% of the world's water is not salty, and two-thirds of that is locked up in the
icecaps and glaciers (Wikipedia, 2010).
Problem Statement
Water pollution is a major problem in the global context. It has been suggested
that it is the leading worldwide cause of death and diseases. One way to reduce water
pollution is by using activated carbon for wastewater treatment.
There are many types or characteristics of activated carbon used in previous
study. The needs to identify the most effective and suitable characteristics of activated
carbon is important because it can produce the best result and at the same time give the
best effectiveness of wastewater treatment.
Significant of Study
One of the used of activated carbon using coconut shell is to remove wastewater
pollutant. It is beneficial to our industry because it can improve water quality. When
water quality is improved, it is safe for living things especially human being use the water
to drinks, bath, and so on. Other than that, there is a lot application of activated carbon
using coconut shell such as used in gas purification, gold purification, metal extraction,
water purification, medicine, sewage treatment, air filters in gas masks and filter masks,
filters in compressed air and many other applications. But in this study, it is focus in
wastewater samples taken from effluent of domestic wastewater near Cafe KK3 (Kolej
Kediaman 3), University Malaysia Pahang (UMP) as a sample to remove wastewater
pollutant. To choose the most suitable and effective characteristics of activated carbon
from coconut shell as wastewater pollutant removal, the size of activated carbon has to be
prioritized. The size of activated carbon like Granular Activated Carbon (minimum 0.297
mm) and Powdered Activated Carbon (0.177 mm and below) was included in this study.