Organic loads reduction efficiency using natural fiber reinforced polymer encapsulated microalgae macrocapsule for wastewater treatment

Abstract

Abstract Organic load such as Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) increases in the water because of the increase in human growth and industrialisation. The initial goal of the study, to characterise the natural fibre reinforced polymer encapsulated microalgae macrocapsule using Scanning electron microscope (SEM). Second, analyse organic load reduction utilising natural fiber reinforced polymer encapsulated microalgae macrocapsule. The experiment was conducted with five Schott bottles with a 1.7 liter working volume as a photobioreactors. The system was operated with three tubes fabricated with different functions. The first tube was connected to the adjustable air pump oxygen aerator to supply oxygen into the photobioreactor system. The photobioreactor’s second tube is designed to flow out gasses. The last tube is the sampling tube function to withdraw the samples for the efficacy of treatment performance. The photobioreactor will continuously be illuminated with cool-white fluorescent light (Philip TL-D 36W/865, light intensity of 60–70 μmol m-2 s-1). This study employs COD to test microalgae’s organic load reduction. From day 1 to 5, COD value shows a pattern of reduction from 352 mg/L for day 1 and 223 mg/L for day 5, respectively. The analysis reveals that the p-OPEFB (Polymeric Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch) macrocapsule has a surface structure with a rough surface before and after treatment. Optical density measures microalgae growth. BBM’s (Bold Basal Medium) increasing absorbance value allows microalgae to develop optimally. Natural fibre reinforced polymer encapsulated microalgae macrocapsule shows potential for wastewater treatment.