Hybrid Coagulation–Membrane Filtration Techniques for Sustainable Soap Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Wastewater from soap production often contains high levels of organic pollutants, exceeding regulatory discharge limits and posing significant environmental concerns. This study investigates a two-stage treatment approach integrating ferric chloride (FeCl3)-based coagulation–flocculation with membrane filtration to enhance wastewater purification efficiency. This method is one of the appropriate treatment techniques to reduce water pollution. Thus, numerous Jar test trials have been carried out in order to determine the optimal conditions and parameters that make it possible to reduce suspended solids. Key water quality parameters, including chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, and turbidity, were monitored to assess process performance. Optimization experiments identified optimal coagulation–flocculation conditions, achieving a substantial COD reduction from 9200 mg/L to 351 mg/L significantly improving water quality. However, the treated effluent still failed to meet reuse standards, necessitating further purification. A subsequent membrane filtration stage was implemented, achieving a significant decrease in turbidity to 0.85 Ntu and a turbidity removal efficiency of 99.97%, indicating high treatment efficiency. The final COD of the collected water was 58 mg/L, well below regulatory limits. This hybrid treatment approach offers a highly effective and sustainable solution for soap wastewater management, supporting environmental protection and resource recovery.