Title:

An investigation into the effect of different coagulants at different concentrations on

anaerobically digested palm oil mill effluent (POME) at the final discharge.
Background:
Malaysia has been playing an important role in global palm oil production. In 2012, Malaysia
has recorded a total production of 18.79 million tonnes of crude palm oil, being the second
largest producer in the world, after Indonesias 20.9 million tonnes annually. However, having
exported 18 million tonnes of palm oil products in 2011, Malaysia is still the largest exporter of
palm oil. Hence, an improved method of POME treatment will bring significant benefit to the
process of palm oil mill operation.
Raw POME causes serious environmental harm and based on standards imposed by the the
Department of Environment of Malaysia it needs to be treated prior to being released to the
environment, therefore most palm oil mills will employ anaerobic digestion to treat the POME as
a primary form of treatment by biodegradation. As the BOD/COD ratio of POME is 0.5 it can be
treated by the anaerobic process. In the anaerobic digestion process, the raw POME is first
converted into volatile fatty acids by acid forming bacteria. The volatile acids are then converted
into methane and carbon dioxide. The advantages of anaerobic digestion are the two phase
systems allows greater control of digester environmental conditions, the long solid retention
times allow better biodegradation efficiencies and there is a capability to cope with a full effluent
load.
On the other hand, due to production of organic acid during fermentation process, POME is
generally low in PH, ranging from 4 to 5. However, the sample used has anaerobically digested,
hence pH value will usually range from 7 to 9. Simultaneously, it is worthwhile to identify the
optimum dosage for each of the coagulant used in order to have anaerobically digested POME
further treated and complied with the regulatory standards for discharging into water bodies
without causing significant pollution.
The experiment will investigate the effect of different coagulants used to treat anaerobically
digested POME at final discharge in terms of changes in suspended solids and COD/BOD
measurement. The sample (anaerobically digested POME) will be treated with coagulation and
flocculation to a standard to be recycled back into the Palm Oil Mill as process water. It is
necessary to reduce to contaminants (suspended solids, BOD, COD) to as low as possible to
reduce build up over time. Ideally, the further treated anaerobically digested POME should have
values that correspond with drinking water standards, and therefore should have a BOD value of
<1mg/L and COD value smaller than 10mg/L.
It would not be viable to recycle anaerobically digested POME back to the system in its current
state due to the fact that the suspended solids concentration would cause fouling and scaling in
the pipes and pumps in the system, resulting in very high maintenance costs. High BOD and
COD concentrations would also cause floating grease pads, sludge build-ups to occur, tank
1

deposits, and back-ups in the palm oil mill. It is therefore pertinent to reduce suspended solids,
COD and BOD to reduce all of the aforementioned issues and save future operating and
maintenance costs.
In terms of financial benefit, it is estimated for each tonne of crude palm oil produced, around 5
tonnes of water are needed. Malaysia water rates for Selangor have prices at RM 2.28 for every
m3 water. This means for that every tonne of crude palm oil produced, roughly RM 11400 will be
spent on process water. Therefore, even recycling half of that water back through the system will
save a lot of running costs in the future. However, the cost of chemical treatment of the
anaerobically digested POME should be taken in to account to determine whether the process is
economically viable as a profit needs to be made.

Problems ahead:
The selection process of coagulants, overcome by trying a range of coagulants from
alum, polyaluminium chloride and ferric chloride. Alongside, it is also worthwhile to
observe the effect of flocculants addition and direct flocculation during the experiment.
Wastewater sample collected has to be consistent as it is not possible to test the
concentrations in the sample therefore the sample can only be collected in one instance as
if it is collected on another occasion the properties of the wastewater may have changed.
Can be overcome by diluting the sample with distilled water.
Determining optimum coagulant concentration to be used, and range of concentrations
and their intervals going from 10mg/L - 100mg/L.
Observing the floc size, probably going to be a range of floc sizes in the water.
Objectives:
1) To understand the process of coagulation and flocculation using different coagulant at
different concentration.
2) To determine the impact of different coagulants and their optimum concentration in
flocculation process in terms of suspended solids settlement and COD,BOD reduction.
3) Finding the most effective whilst considering pH, cost-most economically viable under a
constant stirring speed.
4) To further treating the anaerobically digested POME taken at final discharge in order to study
the possibility of recycling back the treated water to the palm oil mill. This is also to reduce
water consumption during leaching process of extracting fresh palm oil from solid seeds.
Targets/scope of research:
As POME causes environmental harm, reduced biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, water
pollution and habitat destruction, our groups aim is to treat the POME until it is safe to dispose
of, therefore it should have a PH level between 6.5-7 .5, BOD <1mg/L and COD value smaller
than 10mg/L, TSS value of <25mg/L .

Material
1) 1 x Flocculator
2) 3 x 10ml syringe
3) 6 x 500ml Beakers
4) Coagulant: Aluminium Sulphate solution, Polyaluminium Chloride solution, Aluminium
Chloro Hydrate
5) pH adjustor : sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid solution
6) 1 x COD,BOD meter
7) 2 x 50 ml measuring cylinders
8) 1 x 25ml pipette
9) 1 x 5mL pipette
10) 2 x pH meter
11) 1 x Spectral photometer
12) 2 x 10l containers
13) 2 x COD Digestion Reagent Vials
14) 0.1% anionic and 0.2% cationic polymers of polyacrylamide flocculant
15) 12 x 300ml BOD bottles, glass with glass stoppers and plastic caps.
16) 10L Deionized dilution water
17) 1 x Incubator
18) 1 x DRB200 Reactor
19) 1 x Probe and meter to measure dissolved oxygen
20) 4 x 1000 ml volumetric flask
21) 1 x Pail (Large)
22) 3 x Glass Rod
23) 2 x Funnel Filter
24) 500mL measuring cylinder phase
Procedure/experimental design
Preparation Procedure
Coagulant preparation (powder to liquid form)
1. Determine the mass of coagulant powder required to prepare 10g/L
concentration in 500 ml of coagulant in solution form. Use the equation
below:

2. Calculate the volume of 10g/L coagulant solution required to amount to

the concentration variables listed.

Alum (Aluminium Sulphate) Specific gravity =2.67

Volume for stock
concentration
(10g/L )dissolving 1.88g
Concentration
of coagulant in 500ml
(mg/L)
(ml)
10
0.5
20
1
40
2
60
3
80
4
100
5
Polyaluminium Chloride Specific gravity =0.77
Volume for stock
concentration
(10g/L )dissolving 6.49g
Concentration
of coagulant in 500ml
(mg/L)
(ml)
10
0.5
20
1
40
2
60
3
80
4
100
5
Aluminium Chlorohydrate Specific gravity = 1.36
Volume of stock
concentration (10g/L )
Concentration
dissolving 3.68g of
(mg/L)
coagulant in 500ml (ml)
10
0.5
20
1
40
2
60
3
80
4
100
5

Preparation of pH adjustor (acid and caustic solution)

Preparing HCL solution
1. The acid solution, hydrochloric acid HCl, is already provided with a 37%
purity.
2. Take 100g of acid solution and determine its molarity.
= 1.01 mol
3. As the S.G. of the solution is given on the label of container bottle, the
density of HCL solution is 1.18g/mL. Hence,
=
1.18 =
volume, v = 84.75 mL
4. The molarity of given acid solution :
5. By applying

= 11.918 mol/L 12 mol/L

, determine the amount required to prepare 1L

of 0.1mol/L of HCL solution.

Thus, the required solution volume is 8.3L.
6. Use a pipette to draw up 8.3L of stock solution and transfer into a 1L
volumetric flask. Make sure the stock solution is transported as
complete as possible by using distilled water to rinse through the
pipette.
7. Add distilled water into the flask until the liquid level reached the
meniscus point. Shake well to ensure good mixing.
Preparing NAOH solution
1. Calculation :

= 0.1 mol

2. Take 4g of solid sodium hydroxide using weighing scale.

3. Fill the borosilicate glass beaker with 25mL distilled water, then
dissolve the solid sodium hydroxide in it. Slowly agitate the mixture
with glass rod.
4. Transport the solution into the 1L volumetric flask using a filter funnel.
Rinse the beaker with distilled water and the washing into the flask.
5. Add distilled water into the volumetric flask until the water level reach
the meniscus point. At this stage, we have prepared a 1L of 0.1mol/L
NAOH solution.
5

Experiment Procedure
Common Procedure
1. Adjust pH of anaerobically digested POME to a value suitable for coagulation. ~pH7.
2. Fill 6 beakers with 500mL of sample - anerobically digested POME at final discharge.
3. Take a small sample representative of the entire batch to measure and record the initial
TSS,COD, BOD using the method outlined below.
4. Start the stirrers at 100 rpm and quickly add the prescribed dosage of
coagulant/flocculant in each beaker and keep rapidly mixing for exactly 1 minute.
5. Determine total alkalinity of the sample throughout the stirring process. If the alkalinity is
found to be low, add adequate amount of pH adjustor solution to each beaker using a
pipette. The desired pH after adjustment is 7.
6. Reduce the speed of stirrers to 40 rpm and continue mixing for 15 minutes.
7. Stop and raise the paddles above water level and leave the beakers for flocs to settle for
20 minutes.
8. Siphon out clear sample (supernatant) from each beaker without disturbing settled sludge
on the bottom.
9. Measure the final COD, TSS and prepare sample to measure final BOD and record
observations on floc size.
10. After 5 days, measure BOD.
Coagulation
1. Check flocculator, jars and personal protective equipment prior to starting the
experiment, once adequate, begin.
2. Repeat Common Procedure
Flocculation
1) Analyze the result of coagulations to determine the optimum coagulant
and the concentration at which it achieve highest purification of
wastewater (optimum concentration).
2) Conduct the same experiment once again, but with concentration and
type of coagulant as constant parameters this time round in order to
identify the optimum pH. Then, the next flocculation experiment should
aim to adjust until this value of pH after addition of flocculants.
3) Measure and record the value of COD,BOD and TSS of the sample that
was being treated with the optimum coagulant using methods outlined
below.
4) Repeat Common Procedure
6

Direct Flocculation
1) Repeat Common Procedure, but use the proposed polyacrylamide flocculants to replace
coagulant. The purpose here is to study the effectiveness of direct flocculation as
compared to coagulation and flocculation.

Suspended solids measurement

1) Stir the sample in the beaker and immediately pour 10mL of the blended sample into a sample
cell.
2) Blank preparation : Fill a second sample cell with 10mL deionized water.
3) Insert the blank into the cell holder with the fill line facing right.
4) Press ZERO and the display will show 0 mg/L TSS to perform calibration.
5) Swirl the prepared sample to remove any gas bubbles and uniformly suspend any residue.
6) Insert the prepared sample into the cell holder with the fill line facing right.
7)Press Read and the record down the result in terms of mg/L of TSS.
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) measurement
1) Turn on the DRB200 Reactor. Preheat to 150oC.
2) Remove the caps from two COD Digestion Reagent Vials. (Be sure to use vials for the
appropriate range)
3) Hold one vial at a 45-degree angle. Use a clean volumetric pipet to add 2.00 mL of sample to
the vial.
4) Blank preparation:Hold a second vial at a 45o angle. Use a clean volumetric pipet to add 2.0ml
of deionized water to the vial.
5) Cap the vials tightly. Rinse them with water and wipe with a clean paper towel.
6) Hold the vials by the cap over a sink. Invert gently several times to mix. Insert the vials in the
preheated DRB200 Reactor. Close the protective lid.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) measurement
1) Prepare dilution water a BOD nutrient buffer pillow.
2) Select the sample volumes.
3) Stir the sample gently with the prepared.
4) Use the prepared to add the minimum sample volume to the first BOD bottle.
5) Add the remaining 4 sample volume to four more BOD bottles.
6) Mark the bottles by labelling the contents of each bottle.
7) Create diluted water blank
8) Fill each bottle with dilution water and ensure there are no air bubbles formed.

9) Measure the initial dissolved oxygen concentration in each bottle using probe and meter.
Remember to measure for the blank as well.
10) Stopper the bottles and add dilution water to lip of each of the bottle to make a water sealed.
11) Place a plastic cup over the lip of each bottle. Put the bottles in an incubator in 20 oC for 5
days. After 5 days, measure remaining dissolved oxygen concentration in each bottle. At least
1mg/L dissolved oxygen should be left in each bottle.
12) Calculate the BOD value.

Data Collection
Coagulation

Coagulant :
Initial TSS :
Initial COD :
Initial Colour :
Concentration
(mg/L)
10
20
40
60
80
100
Initial BOD:
Final BOD:

Alum (Aluminium Sulphate)

Final
pH
8
8
8
8
8
8

Coagulant :
Initial TSS :
Initial COD :
Initial Colour :
Concentration
(mg/L)
10

Final
TSS
(mg/L)

Final
COD
(mg/L)

Final
Colour
(Pt-co)

Remark

Polyaluminium Chloride

Final
pH
8

Final
TSS
(mg/L)

Final
COD
(mg/L)

Final
Colour
(Pt-co)

Remark

20
40
60
80
100
Initial BOD:
Final BOD:

8
8
8
8
8

Coagulant :
Initial TSS :
Initial COD :
Initial Colour :
Concentration
(mg/L)
10
20
40
60
80
100
Initial BOD:
Final BOD:

Optimum
coagulant :
Initial TSS :
Initial COD :
Initial Colour:
Optimum
concentration
(mg/L)

Aluminium Chlorohydrate

Final
TSS
(mg/L)

Final
COD
(mg/L)

Final
Colour
(Pt-co)

Remark

Fina Final
l
TSS
pH (mg/L)
5

Final
COD
(mg/L)

Final
Colour
(Pt-co)

Remark

Final
pH
8
8
8
8
8
8

6
7
8
9
10
Initial BOD:
Final BOD:

Flocculation

Optimum
coagulant :
Flocculant :
Initial TSS :
Initial COD :
Concentration
(mg/L)
10
20
40
60
80
100
Initial BOD:
Final BOD:

Optimum
coagulant :
Flocculant :
Initial TSS :

Polyacrylamide (Anionic)

Fina Final
l
TSS
pH (mg/L)
8
8
8
8
8
8

Final
COD
(mg/L)

Remark

Polyacrylamide (Cationic)

10

Initial COD :
Concentration
(mg/L)
10
20
40
60
80
100
Initial BOD:
Final BOD:
Optimum
coagulant :
Flocculant :
Initial TSS :
Initial COD :
Concentration
(mg/L)
10
20
40
60
80
100
Initial BOD:
Final BOD:

Fina Final
l
TSS
pH (mg/L)
8
8
8
8
8
8

Final
COD
(mg/L)

Remark

Polyacrylamide (Cationic)

Fina Final
l
TSS
pH (mg/L)
8
8
8
8
8
8

Final
COD
(mg/L)

Remark

Direct flocculation

Flocculant :
Initial TSS :
Initial COD :

Polyacrylamide (Cationic)

11

Concentration
(mg/L)
10
20
40
60
80
100
Initial BOD:
Final BOD:

Flocculant :
Initial TSS :
Initial COD :
Concentration
(mg/L)
10
20
40
60
80
100
Initial BOD:
Final BOD:

Final TSS
(mg/L)

Final COD
(mg/L)

Remark

Polyacrylamide (Anionic)

Final TSS
(mg/L)

Final COD
(mg/L)

Remark

12