Rubber Processing Effluent Treatment with Chitosan: A Natural Biopolymer in Comparison with a Synthetic Coagulant

Abstract

Chitosan, a naturally occurring biopolymer extracted from prawn heads was used in the treatment of crump rubber processing effluent for safe disposal into the environment. The triplicate analyses of the effluent samples obtained by composite sampling method indicated high levels of pollution which violated the permissible limits of environmental discharge standards; with a low DO of 0.63mg/L, BOD, 312.00±1.32mg/L and COD, 1069.58±2.42mg/L (mean±SD) respectively. Chitosan was analyzed according to standard procedures; it showed good coagulative potentials from the elemental analysis and a degree of deacetylation of 76.5%. The crump rubber processing effluent was treated with chitosan and Iron (III) Chloride respectively by coagulation and flocculation method and the results obtained via the physico-chemical characterization of the treated effluent showed that the use of chitosan as a coagulant compared favourably with Iron (III) Chloride after treatment. DO levels increased from 0.63mg/L to 3.90 mg/L. There were also remarkable reduction in the Turbidity, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) levels of the treated samples by over 80% respectively and 70% reduction in the nutrient levels. The efficacy of chitosan in comparison with Iron (III) Chloride suggests that it can be used as a replacement for synthetic coagulants based on its availability and environmental friendliness.

The removal of nickel and lead ions from aqueous solutions using green synthesized silica microparticles

“…Heavy metals can be described as naturally existing elements whose atomic weight and density is at the minimum 5 times larger than that of water [ 1 ]. Industrial discharge contain organic and inorganic pollutants, including heavy metals [ 2 ]. These metals are carcinogenic and/or toxic and as such dangerous to living things [ 1 , 2 ].…”

“…Industrial discharge contain organic and inorganic pollutants, including heavy metals [ 2 ]. These metals are carcinogenic and/or toxic and as such dangerous to living things [ 1 , 2 ]. Heavy metals of utmost concern from several industrial wastes include nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and zinc (Zn) [ 1 ].…”

Environmental Remediation Potential of Ferrous Sulfate Waste as an Eco-Friendly Coagulant for the Removal of NH3-N and COD from the Rubber Processing Effluent

“…Rahman et al [ 4 ] obtained a maximum of 87% COD removal from rubber processing effluent using a multiphase treatment scheme, such as upflow anaerobic sludge blanket treatment, flowed by coagulation and aeration. Ize-Iyamu et al [ 27 ] obtained about 70% of COD removal from rubber processing effluent using chitosan as a biocoagulant. Thus, the higher COD removal obtained from rubber processing effluent using FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O reveals that the FeSO 4 ·7H 2 O can be used as an alternative to the commercial coagulant for effectively treating rubber processing effluent.…”

Mitigating rubber waste effluent through microbial approaches: A review

“…Pollution is a growing concern that poses significant threats to the environment, ecosystems, and human health (Ifijen et al, 2020;Ikhuoria et al, 2020). It refers to the introduction of harmful substances or contaminants into the natural environment, resulting in adverse effects on living organisms and the overall balance of ecosystems (Ifijen et al, 2022;Ize-Iyamua et al, 2019). Rubber waste effluents, which are generated from the production and processing of rubber products, can have significant negative impacts on the environment if not properly treated (Al-Musawi et al, 2019).…”