Combination of Coagulation-flocculation and Ultrafiltration Processes using Cellulose Acetate Membrane for Wastewater Treatment of Tofu Industry

The tofu industry is generally a household-scale industry so that the efficiency of water used and wastewater treatment are mistreated. Wastewater from tofu industry is very hazardous when discharged directly into the aquatic environment as it contains high organic pollutants which is indicated by high concentrations of BOD (biological oxygen demand), COD (chemical oxygen demand), TSS (total suspended solid), TDS (total dissolved solid) and turbidity. The optimization of wastewater treatment process is needed to meet the quality standards set by the government and also needed to obtain more effective and efficient effluent treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the performance of combination coagulation-flocculation and ultrafiltration processes for tofu industry wastewater treatment. The process of pretreatment coagulation and flocculation using poly aluminum chloride (PAC) was conducted to extend the life of the ultrafiltration membrane and improve the performance of ultrafiltration membrane separation. The experimental results showed that TSS and turbidity decreased with precipitation time whereas COD did not significantly change. TDS after coagulation-flocculation has increased due to the addition of PAC. The TSS, TDS, COD and turbidity of wastewater were drastically reduced after experiencing ultrafiltration process. After the ultrafiltration process, the TSS, Turbidity, COD and TDS rejection were 98.8%, 98.1%, 71.0% and 50.6%, respectively.