The Effect of Silane Treatment on Nanosized Carica Papaya Seed Modified Pullulan as Biocoagulant in Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Currently, conventional wastewater treatment process used chemical coagulant such as Aluminium sulphate. However, the residual aluminium in treated wastewater causes toxicity and serious health issues such as Alzheimer’ disease. Thus, in this study the potential of nanosized Carica Papaya (CP) seeds treated by silane coupling agent incorporated to pullulan on wastewater treatment was investigated. The biocoagulant produce prepared at a different composition of CP range from 1% to 9% was used to treat sewage wastewater. The biocoagulant was characterized by particle size analyser, FTIR and FESEM. The treated wastewater was analyzed by jar test in term of turbidity, pH, dissolved oxygen and Total Suspended Solid with biocoagulant dosage at 0.6 g/L. The size of nanosized biocoagulant was obtained at 608.9 nm. Silane treatment provides well dispersion of nanosized Carica Papaya seed powder in the pullulan matrix phase. FTIR analysis shows the presence of O-H, C=O and Si-O-CH₃ bond. The highest turbidity reduction observed at the composition of nanosized CP5/P and silane treated nanosized CP5/P up to 93.89% and 93.98% respectively. However, no significant changes observed on turbidity reduction with increasing CP seeds content for both biocoagulant. Further, at these compositions, the TSS reduced up to 20% and 60% respectively. The DO value of wastewater decreased from the initial value and the increased the pH from 6.58 to 6.69 lead to the neutral condition. Therefore, the effectiveness of both untreated and silane treated biocoagulant were further confirmed upon textile wastewater with turbidity reduction achieved up to 7.84% and 14.54 % respectively. Overall, silane treatment enhanced the effectiveness of nanosized CP modified pullulan as biocoagulant.