Luffa cylindrica seed: Biomass for wastewater treatment, sludge generation study at optimum conditions

Abstract

A BoX-Behnken design implementing response surface methodology was employed to investigate the sludge generation and removal of pollutants from teXtile wastewater using Luffa cylindrica seed powder (LCSP) in its natural form as biomass in the coagulation-flocculation process. With color/total suspended solids (CTSS) removal, chemical oXygen demand (COD) removal and sludge volume indeX (SVI) as the three responses, the three quadratic models of three variables including LCSP dosage, solution pH and stirring time were developed. The optimal conditions determined by the combination of the three desirable responses were 1.4 g/l LCSP, solution pH 2 and 30 min stirring time, resulting in 87.83% CTSS removal, 96.07% COD removal, and 98.29 ml/g SVI. The use of LCSP eXhibited great potential for teXtile wastewater treatment and thus can contribute to a greener environment.

Keywords

• biomass
• chemical oxygen demand
• luffa cylindrica
• sludge volume index
• textile wastewater