Optimization of coagulation–flocculation pretreatment of palm oil mill effluent using cassava peel as a natural coagulant

This study aims to optimize the coagulation–flocculation pretreatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) using cassava peel as a natural coagulant. The raw effluent exhibited a high pollution load, with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) of ۱۰۵۲۰۰ mgO₂/L and a turbidity of ۲۱۴۵۰ NTU. Optimization experiments were conducted using response surface methodology (RSM) based on a Box–Behnken design to evaluate the effects of coagulant dosage, pH, and stabilization time. The optimal conditions were determined as pH ۹, a coagulant dose of approximately ۳۰۰۰ mg/L, and a stabilization time of ۲۱.۱۱ min. Under these conditions, removal efficiencies reached ۹۷.۰۹% for turbidity and ۹۶.۲۵% for COD. These results indicate that using cassava peel enables the valorization of agro-industrial waste while reducing reliance on chemical coagulants.

کلیدواژه ها:

cassava peel ، Coagulation–flocculation ، Optimization ، palm oil mill effluent ، Response surface methodology