Potensi Biji Melon sebagai Biokoagulan dalam Pengolahan Air Limbah Domestik Industri Katering

Abstract

Tingginya kandungan pencemar pada air limbah domestik industri katering, khususnya Total Suspended Solids (TSS) yang melebihi baku mutu, menunjukkan perlunya alternatif pengolahan tambahan yang ramah lingkungan salah satunya koagulasi flokulasi. Penelitian bertujuan menganalisis potensi biji melon sebagai biokoagulan dalam pengolahan air limbah domestik industri katering. Metode yang digunakan adalah kuantitatif deskriptif melalui pembuatan serbuk biji melon, analisis Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), dan jar test terhadap parameter pH, EC, TDS, kekeruhan dan TSS. Perlakuan dilakukan dengan menambahkan biokoagulan biji melon dosis 0,5 gram, 1 gram, dan 1,5 gram ke dalam 500 mL air limbah. Hasil FTIR menunjukkan adanya gugus O-H, N-H, C-H, C=C, dan C=O yang berperan dengan mekanisme koagulasi. Secara umum, biokoagulan biji melon optimum pada parameter TSS di dosis optimal 0,5 gram. Namun, Secara ekonomi, biokoagulan biji melon belum lebih efisien dibandingkan tawas, tetapi lebih ramah lingkungan karena memanfaatkan limbah organik dan mengurangi penggunaan bahan kimia sintetis.

The high pollutant content in domestic wastewater from the catering industry, particularly Total Suspended Solids (TSS) exceeding the quality standard, indicates the need for an environmentally friendly additional treatment alternative, one of which is coagulation-flocculation. This study aims to analyze the potential of melon seeds as a biocoagulant in treating domestic wastewater from the catering industry. The method used was descriptive quantitative, involving the preparation of melon seed powder, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) analysis, and jar tests on pH, EC, TDS, turbidity, and TSS parameters. The treatment was conducted by adding melon seed biocoagulant at doses of 0.5 grams, 1 gram, and 1.5 grams into 500 mL of wastewater. The FTIR results showed the presence of O-H, N-H, C-H, C=C, and C=O functional groups, which play a role in the coagulation mechanism. In general, melon seed biocoagulant was optimum for the TSS parameter at an optimal dose of 0.5 grams. However, economically, melon seed biocoagulant is not yet more efficient than alum, although it is more environmentally friendly because it utilizes organic waste and reduces the use of synthetic chemicals.