HIGH TURBIDITY AND COD REMOVAL IN RIVER WATER USING LOW DOSAGE PLANT-BASED TACCA LEONTOPETALOIDES FLOCCULANT (TBPF) FOLLOWED BY ACTIVATED CARBON TREATMENT

Pollution in river water affects human, plant and animal health and activities, and its removal using chemical coagulants is a huge concern. This study aims to reduce turbidity and COD pollutants in river water through coagulation-adsorption process by using Tacca leontopetaloides biopolymer flocculant (TBPF) and powder activated carbon (PAC). In coagulation experiment, TBPF dosages were varied to evaluate the effect on turbidity and COD removal in river water by using Bioblock flocculator followed by adsorption process by adding PAC. The results found that at 200 mg/L of TBPF dosage with 2000 mg/L of PAC, the maximum turbidity and COD removal were obtained at 49% and 81%, respectively. The final turbidity and COD loads were 4.2 NTU and 9.3 mg/L, respectively, which were below the standard limit set for CLASS IIB provided by the National Water Quality Standards of Malaysia (NWQSM). High turbidity and COD removal using low dosage of environmental friendly plant-based TBPF-PAC through coagulation-adsorption process in this study has a great potential for river water treatment, particularly at the domestic area.