Physical and Chemical Treatability Study in Wastewater Treatment Plant Design (Case Study: Leather Tanning Industry)

Abstract

The leather tanning industrial is one of the industries that produces wastewater from its production process which contains several contaminants. In wastewater treatment plant design, the treatability study is important because it becomes a consideration in selecting treatment units in wastewater treatment plant based on the characteristics of the wastewater produced. Two methods were carried out in this treatability study, the physical method with imhoff cone sedimentation and the chemical method with jar test. The results of imhoff cone test found that the removal efficiency for wastewater samples was 80% of COD, 72% of BOD, 64.6% of TSS, 72% of total chromium, and 80% of color with the optimum sedimentation time of 50 minutes. Furthermore, the waste water sample was tested by the jar test by adding PAC and FeCl3. The results of the jar test obtained the optimum coagulant dose of 3000 mg/L with PAC coagulant, it was capable of removing 77% of COD, 33% of BOD, 92.68% of TSS, 33% of total chromium, and 98% of color. Based on the results achieved from this study, the physical and chemical treatment can be considered for use in WWTP planning in the leather tanning industry.