Banana Tree as Natural Biofilter for Organic Contaminant in Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

An organic contaminant is one of the environmental issues in the wastewater. Organic contaminants in wastewater may produce toxic chemicals during disinfection. Nowadays, food industries and restaurants are the main contributors to the organic contaminant in the wastewater. Organic contaminant caused the increase of BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), TSS (Total Suspended Solid), and decrease DO (Dissolved Oxygen). The purpose of this article is to evaluate the efficiency of removing the organic contaminant from wastewater with natural biofilter from a banana tree. The efficiency of the banana tree was analyzed in terms of decreasing BOD, COD and the content of TSS. The parts of a banana tree that can be removed the organic contaminant from wastewater is its stem. The Banana stem used as natural media biofilter because of its abundant availability in Indonesia. The disadvantages of a banana tree were it can be easily placed by bacteria. Bacteria will develop well on the banana stem because the banana stem is moist enough and consist of much water in it. The banana stem contains cellulose fibers that can be used as media biofilter because of the characteristics of it, such as abundantly available, biodegradable, renewable, cheaper, low abrasive nature, unusual, specific properties, and exhibit excellent mechanical properties. However, the disadvantages of cellulose fibers were low thermal stability, moisture absorption, and poor compatibility.