ANALYSIS OF ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS PEEL AS A NATURAL COAGULANT USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY (RSM)

The chemical coagulants used in the process of wastewater treatment causes negative implications on environment and human health. Exploration on natural coagulants as environmental friendly solution has been widely carried out. In present research, Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit) peel is used as coagulant in treating domestic wastewater. This study aimed to assess optimum pH of wastewater and coagulant dosage by varying them to achieve the maximum removal rate of total suspended solid (TSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity. The studied range for pH of wastewater was pH 1-3 and dosage of coagulant within 50-70 mg/L. Response surface methodology (RSM) based on central composite design (CCD) implied in optimization of this coagulation process. Treatment using this natural coagulant enabled maximum reduction of turbidity, TSS, BOD and COD up to 80.7 %, 77.5 %, 34.3 % and 34.6 % respectively under optimum condition of pH 2.1 and dosage of 58 mg/L. These findings revealed higher reduction in turbidity and TSS. Thus, this study indicates the promising potential of the Artocarpus heterophyllus peel extract as an alternative bio-based coagulating agent for effective pre-treatment of wastewater.