Development of Natural Fiber as a Filter Media in Removing Organic Pollutants from Greywater

Abstract

Greywater is a wastewater originating from shower, bathtub, bathroom sink, kitchen sink and laundry. Despite the fact of wastewater in Malaysia may also include a complex mixture of organic matter, suspended solids, bacteria and common household chemicals, when used wisely and in a manner that is protective to public health and the environment, it can helps preserve limited water supply. This study aims the efficiency of adsorption of organic pollutants in greywater by using natural fibers such as Kenaf dust and Chitosan powder to treat the colour of water and the cause of odours from the greywater. The objective of this research is to identify the characteristics of greywater according to standard effluent discharge, as well as to characterize the physical properties of Kenaf (Hibiscus Cannabinus L.) and to determine the percent removal parameters of greywater by using Kenaf dust and Chitosan powder as organic removal. Raw greywater samples were taken at main drain Kompleks Parit Raja. The results for raw greywater samples obtained such as COD (253 mg/l), TSS (1800 mg/l), pH (5.89) and turbidity (47.5 NTU) were compared to Effluent Standard Discharge (EQA 1974). The COD removal efficiencies by using kenaf dust and chitosan powder amounted to 51% and 50 %, also TSS removal 89% and 100%. The pH and turbidity amounted to 6.76 and 7.04, 46 NTU and 4.46 NTU respectively. The overall removal of organic pollutants increased with different mass of adsorbents, then the optimum adsorbents were selected 30%, 40% and 50% to form as beads.

A review on the properties of natural fibres and its bio-composites: Effect of alkali treatment

“…16 Table 4 shows the details of some recent potential applications of biocomposites in different fields. [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29] Further, some recent applications of biocomposites are also presented in Figure 1. Figure 1(a) shows the door inner panel which is made of flax/sisal with thermosets resin 50% kenaf/ 50% polypropylene, 17 (b) shows the cosmetic products which is made of curaua fibre wood flour-based composites, 26 (c) shows the furniture that is made of oil palm fibre polyester composite, 8 (d) shows the prosthesis socket application that is made of 60% natural fibre in polyurethane resin, 27 (e) shows the laptop casing that is made of kenaf PLA composite, 26 (f) shows the sustainable packaging that is made of coir and natural latex rubber, 20 (g) shows the panel that is made of jute coir composite, 16 (h) shows the chair which is made of coir fibre polyester composite, 8 (i) shows the racing cycle that is made of hemp/ flax epoxy composite 26 (j) shows the automobile parts which is made of flax mat with polypropylene, 17,18 (k) shows the insulation and acoustic absorber that is made of kenaf composite and cotton fibre-rubber granulate composites 28 and (l)…”

“…In adddition, apart from higher water absorption and poor interfacial bonding, these fibres have some other limitations also such as low thermal stability, low durability, low impact strength, and poor compatibility and wettability. [29][30][31][32][33] A significant amount of research work on the chemical treatments of natural fibres had been performed in the last decades, and recently it has increased. In chemical treatments, different functional groups which are able to react with the structures of fibre and changing their composition attributed to reduced moisture absorption and an improvement in the properties also.…”

Evaluation of Original and Enzyme-Modified Fique Fibers as an Azo Dye Biosorbent Material

“…They mainly consist of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin. Plant fibers are renewable and low-cost biopolymers with significant ion exchange properties [30][31][32][33]. Fique fiber (Furcraea sp.)…”