title: Polishing of treated palm oil mill effluent (POME) from ponding system by electrocoagulation process.
abstract: As the ponding system used to treat palm oil mill effluent (POME) frequently fails to satisfy the discharge standard in Malaysia, the present study aimed to resolve this problem using an optimized electrocoagulation process. Thus, a central composite design (CCD) module in response surface methodology was employed to optimize the interactions of process variables, namely current density, contact time and initial pH targeted on maximum removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), colour and turbidity with satisfactory pH of discharge POME. The batch study was initially designed by CCD and statistical models of responses were subsequently derived to indicate the significant terms of interactive process variables. All models were verified by analysis of variance showing model significances with Prob > F < 0.01. The optimum performance was obtained at the current density of 56 mA/cm(2), contact time of 65 min and initial pH of 4.5, rendering complete removal of colour and turbidity with COD removal of 75.4%. The pH of post-treated POME of 7.6 was achieved, which is suitable for direct discharge. These predicted outputs were subsequently confirmed by insignificant standard deviation readings between predicted and actual values. This optimum condition also permitted the simultaneous removal of NH3-N, and various metal ions, signifying the superiority of the electrocoagulation process optimized by CCD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT), University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar, Perak 31900, Malaysia E-mail: jkbashir@utar.edu.my.
authors.forename: Mohammed J K
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bashir
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT), University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar, Perak 31900, Malaysia E-mail: jkbashir@utar.edu.my.
authors.forename: Tham
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mau Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Fundamental and Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Bandar Seri Iskandar, Darul Ridzuan, Perak, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Lim
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jun Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Green Technology (FEGT), University Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar, Perak 31900, Malaysia E-mail: jkbashir@utar.edu.my.
authors.forename: Ng
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Choon Aun
authors.affiliation: Environmental Engineering Technology, Malaysian Institute of Chemical & Bioengineering Technology, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, (UniKL, MICET), Melaka 78000, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Salem S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Abu Amr
mesh_terms: D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis; D008296:Malaysia; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D061005:Ponds; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D010938:Plant Oils; D000073878:Palm Oil