Treatment of batik wastewater using plant derived surfactant-enhanced ultrafiltration membrane

Abstract

Saponin extract from pericarps of Sapindus rarak DC is utilized to replace synthetic surfactant in the surfactant-enhanced ultrafiltration process. The process conducts to treat real batik wastewater. The extraction by maceration methods was performed in the various ratio of solute to solvent. The extract with proper calculation is used in the wastewater treatment process in various CMC concentration. The highest yield is obtained at solute to solvent ratio of 1:40 (w/v). The flux value of solution without saponin is higher than the one with saponin addition.The flux value is decreased by the increase of saponin concentration on the feed solution. Thelowest average flux value of 31.35 L/m2.h was obtained from the feed solution with saponin concentration of 2 times CMC. Both processes with and without the addition of saponin exhibit permeate flux declined over time. This is due to the interaction of saponin molecule with the pollutant where the pollutant is covered by saponin molecules. The membrane performance shows that saponin is successfully worked to solubilize or bounded the heavy metal molecule, dyes molecules, and other pollutants on its micellar structure. This is proved by the decrease of Cr and COD concentration after the ultrafiltration process enhanced with saponin. Saponin at the concentration of 2 times CMC giving the best result with lowest Cr and COD concentration of 18.3 ppm and 108.4 ppm, respectively, and highest rejection of Cr and COD of 95.88% and 96.91% respectively.