Removal of COD, BOD, and Detergent from Laundry Wastewater Using Coconut-Shell Activated Carbon in Batch and Continuous Fixed-Bed Adsorption

Alexander Tunggul Sutan Haji; Mujaroh Khotimah; Putri Setiani; Amelia Gultom; Ichi Fiaqi Hamada; Abentin Estim; Wisnu Prayogo

doi:10.58524/ijhes.v5i2.1246

Authors

Alexander Tunggul Sutan Haji Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8917-0273
Mujaroh Khotimah Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0304-8501
Putri Setiani Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5346-8086
Amelia Gultom Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya
Ichi Fiaqi Hamada Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya
Abentin Estim Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0985-8970
Wisnu Prayogo Department of Civil Engineering, Universitas Negeri Medan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58524/ijhes.v5i2.1246

Abstract

Laundry wastewater contains high organic matter and detergent residues that may degrade the receiving water quality if discharged without treatment. This study investigated the performance of coconut-shell activated carbon for reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and detergent concentration in laundry wastewater, using batch and continuous fixed-bed adsorption systems. Four activation treatments were evaluated at the batch stage: no activation, NaOH 0.2 N, HCl 0.1 N, and sequential NaOH 0.2 N–HCl 0.1 N. The best activator was then applied in a continuous upflow column with adsorbent thicknesses of 15, 20, and 25 cm. HCl 0.1 N produced the highest batch removal efficiencies, reaching 73.30% for COD, 71.53% for BOD, and 75.73% for detergent. Adsorption equilibrium for all parameters was better described by the Freundlich model than by the Langmuir model, indicating adsorption on a heterogeneous carbon surface. In the continuous system, the 25 cm bed showed the highest concentration-based removal, reaching 97.12% for COD, 97.03% for BOD, and 99.66% for detergent, and provided the longest breakthrough delay. However, the 20 cm bed yielded the highest average pollutant-load reduction, indicating a more balanced operational performance. Hydraulic conductivity decreased from 0.000058 to 0.000036 m/s during operation, suggesting progressive pore blockage and adsorbent saturation. These results demonstrate that coconut-shell activated carbon has good potential as a simple and practical adsorbent for decentralized laundry wastewater treatment.

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