Chemical Coagulation of Salted Whey Effluent for the Reduction of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Turbidity

Author : Magbojos, Bon Joverick Dalangin
Major Adviser : Alfafara, Catalino G.
Major Co-Adviser : Migo, Veronica P.
Committee Members : Capunitan, Jewel A.; Laurio; Michael Vincent O.
Year : 2015
Month : December
Type : Thesis
Degree: BS
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Abstract

The technical feasibility of treating salted whey effluent through coagulation-flocculation method using alum, calcium oxide and ferric chloride as coagulants was explored in this study. After determining the non-compliant initial characteristics of the effluent, coagulation-flocculation experiments were performed at varying coagulant type and dosage. Using calcium oxide as coagulant, the final pH of the effluent increased from 4.29 to around 12. However, using alum and ferric chloride as coagulants decreased the pH of the effluent from 4.19 to 2.45 and 1.38, respectively. Among the three coagulants used, ferric chloride was found to be the most efficient coagulant with the highest turbidity removal efficiency of 88.3% (compared to removals of 68.3% and 72.5% for alum and calcium oxide, respectively). At the optimum ferric chloride dosage of 70g/L, 33% of the total suspended solids (TSS) was removed. On the other hand, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced by 22.5%. The coagulation-flocculation process can be used as pretreatment method for the treatment of salted whey wastewater. However, due to its high treatment cost, the practical application may be difficult. Nevertheless, the addition of more alkalinity (by pH adjustment) might reduce the treatment cost by lowering the required coagulant dosage. Further studies on this aspect are recommended.

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