Comparison of Hollow Fiber and Flat Sheet Membranes for Removing TDS and Turbidity of Palm Oil Mill Effluent Wastewater

Abstract

The most significant pollutant produced from agricultural industry in Kalimantan, Indonesia is Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME). Due to the high levels of suspended particles and organic matter, POME has become a brownish color with high turbidity, color, chemical oxygen demand, and oil and grease content. To recycle the POME wastewater as clean water, these pollutants must be eliminated. In this study, we compare the effectiveness of hollow fiber (HF) and flat sheet (FS) membrane to remove total dissolved solid (TDS) and turbidity from POME with varied filtration pressure. HF and FS membrane were prepared from PVDF and nylon66 polymer, respectively. The PVDF HF membrane was modified using TiO2 and SBE (spent bleaching earth) to improve HF membrane properties to maintaining fouling. Meanwhile, FS membrane was added by pectin to increase the hydrophilic properties. Overall membrane’s morphology was determined by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to investigate the membrane structure. Both of HF and FS membrane were operated via ultrafiltration (UF) under cross flow system. The filtration pressures were varied at 1-3 bar and followed by flux and rejection evaluation. The results show both HF and FS membranes has stability flux. In addition, TDS rejection up to 25% while turbidity is excellent high over 95% for all membranes. The fabrication HF membrane has finger like-sponge structure and FS membrane exhibits sponge asymmetric structure. Overall, all membranes perform highest water flux (FS membrane) while highest rejection conducted by HF membrane for POME wastewater treatment.