Portable wastewater treatment plant using banana stem filter media in small scale motor vehicle washing services

Abstract

One of the technology that can be applied to small-scale wastewater treatment was used simple filtering system. In general, water filter media uses a mixture with layered system such as silica sand media, zeolite, manganese green sand, and activated carbon. Portable WWTP can be used for effective and efficient motorized vehicle washing wastewater treatment so that the wastewater was environmentally friendly and can be reused. The variables used in the design test are TSS, Detergent and pH. Filter media that used were banana stem, zeolite sand and activated carbon with a thickness of 50 cm, a downflow-upflow flow and a duration of 3 days. The results showed that the average percentage of effectiveness after going through IPAL were 31% BP-BP (banana stem-banana stem), 46% BP-PK (banana stem-sand carbon), and PZ-KA (zeolite-activated carbon) by 48%. The use of banana stem filters was considered more economical, easy to obtain, fast, lightweight and practise. Banana stem filter media was also more effective in lowering pH. The use of variety banana stem filter media with a combination sand and carbon (BP-PK) can minimize the weakness of the sand filter, which generally requires a long flow time and sufficient pressure.