BIODEGRADABILITY OF PLANT-BASED FLOCCULANT FROM BOEHMERIA NIVEA

• Main Author: Aqsara, Arsyi
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik saniter dan perkotaan; teknik perlindungan lingkungan
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/81070
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Traditional and modern technologies have been used to remove colloidal particles from wastewater, including coagulation/ flocculation which is a common solidliquid separation process in water treatment. Hemp plant-based flocculants were chosen for their extractable cellulose as a base material for biomaterial composites, solving sustainability and toxicity issues found in inorganic coagulants and synthetic polymer flocculants. The research involved TSS, TDS, turbidity, COD, BOD, and biodegradability tests to assess the suspended particle removal efficiency and environmental safety of using these natural flocculants. As a result, cationic cellulose (Boehmeria nivea) flocculant or CC was more effective in removing suspended particles and turbidity in artificial raw water and surface raw water compared to conventional coagulant Poly Aluminum Chloride (PAC). CC also produces less sludge volume compared to PAC which is good for sludge handling, but higher sludge density. CC showed good biodegradability by microorganisms. Biodegradability tests showed that CC is an environmentally friendly flocculant, with good degradability in liquid and solid conditions, reducing BOD and COD values and being a substrate for microorganisms.