Distribution of Detergent Waste in the Environment and the Removal by Using Photocatalytic Degradation and Coagulation Methods

Abstract

Aims: This study is aimed to determine the distribution of detergent contamination in the Code River and the ability to remove it from laundry wastewater samples by using photocatalytic degradation and coagulation methods. Place and Duration of Study:The study was located at the Code River close to Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, and the research was conducted for 6 months (June-November 2013). Methodology: The water samples used in this study consist of waste water (produced from laundry activities) and river water (before and after the outlet of laundry waste disposal). Analysis of anionic surfactant and phosphate were carried out by UV/visible spectrophotometric methods using methylene blue and ammonium molybdate, respectively as complexing agents. The surfactant removal was studied using photocatalytic degradation and that of phosphate by coagulation methods. The photocataltyic reaction was carried out in batch technique by irradiating the artificial waste in the presence of TiO 2

Photo-Processes as Effective and Low-Cost Methods for Laundry Wastewater Treatment

“…The active component with high content in the detergent is anionic surfactant prior to linear alkyl benzene sulfonate (LAS) . It is reasonable therefore that high concentration of LAS is contained in the laundry wastewater, as reported [2], that was around 200 mg/L from the first rinse. The presence of LAS in water can cause damage to the ecosystem thereby affecting the environment, and consumption of LAS above 0.5 mg/L can be harmful to health [1].…”

“…Various methods have been developed to remove LAS surfactant in water and wastewater, such as adsorption [3][4], coagulation [2,[5][6], and filtration [7][8]. By adsorption, coagulation, and filtration techniques, the surfactant of LAS is only replaced from water to the adsorbents, coagulants and membranes with the same toxicity [1], then they are collected as hazardous solid wastes.…”

“…The values for concentrations of LAS in domestic effluents ranged from 3 to 21 mg/L [1] was also reported. From the laundry public services, 137 to 200 mg/L of the concentration of anionic surfactant in sewage was detected by other researchers, [2,16].…”

“…The MB-LAS is insoluble in water, that has to be extracted into organic solvent such as chloroform. Then the MB-LAS as blue chloroform solution is measured by using spectrophotometer instrument at 650 nm of the wavelength, to obtain its absorbance [2,12].…”

“…Due to negative effects of anionic surfactant on organisms and environment, many environmental and public health regulatory authorities have considered restrictions. As an example, Indonesian Government regulates that anionic surfactants in laundry wastewater has to be lower than 1.0 mg/L, as MBAS (Methylene Blue-Active-Substance), allowed to be discharged to the environment [2].…”