Pyrolysis Optimized Kapok Fiber Adsorption Coupled with Electrocoagulation and Biofilm Kinetics for Palm Oil Mill Effluent Treatment

Abstract

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) contains high oil and grease (O&G) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations that disrupt electrocoagulation (EC)–Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) performance. This study aimed to develop a three-stage treatment system—calcium stearate (CaSt2)-modified kapok fiber adsorption, EC, and MBBR—integrated through a series-connected dynamic kinetic model. One-way ANOVA on the main experiment confirmed 400°C as optimal (?²=0.894; O&G removal 70.65%). Model calibration yielded qmax=30.50 mg/g and µmax=3.0 day?¹, with MAPE of 15.24% (adsorption), 17.05% (EC), and 5.97% (MBBR), while Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis identified qmax dominant in adsorption (99.5%) and the µmax–?h pair co-dominant in MBBR (95.3%). Scenario simulation showed sCOD=350 mg/L compliance reached at hydraulic retention time (HRT)˜31.5 h or mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS)˜11,132 mg/L, confirming HRT and MLSS as the most influential operational parameters, and total COD compliance requires experimental verification.

Limbah cair pabrik kelapa sawit (LCPKS) mengandung konsentrasi O&G serta COD tinggi yang mengganggu kinerja EC–MBBR. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengembangkan sistem pengolahan tiga tahap—adsorpsi serat kapuk termodifikasi kalsium stearat (CaSt2), EC, dan MBBR—yang terintegrasi melalui model kinetika dinamis tersambung-seri. ANOVA satu arah pada eksperimen utama mengonfirmasi 400°C sebagai kondisi optimum (?²=0,894; removal O&G 70,65%). Kalibrasi model menghasilkan qmax=30,50 mg/g dan µmax==3,0 hari?¹, dengan MAPE 15,24% (adsorpsi), 17,05% (EC), dan 5,97% (MBBR), sedangkan sensitivitas Monte Carlo mengidentifikasi qmax dominan pada adsorpsi (99,5%) dan pasangan µmax–?h ko-dominan pada MBBR (95,3%). Simulasi skenario menunjukkan kepatuhan sCOD=350 mg/L tercapai pada HRT˜31,5 jam atau MLSS˜11.132 mg/L, menegaskan HRT dan MLSS sebagai parameter operasional paling berpengaruh, dan kepatuhan COD total memerlukan verifikasi eksperimental.