Startup and long-term performance of combined processes of physical and upflow anaerobic filter (UAF) for real batik wastewater treatment

¹ Doctoral program in Environmental Science, School of Postgraduate Studies, Diponegoro University, Jl. Imam Bardjo SH, no. 5, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
² Research Center for Environmental and Clean Technology, National Research and Innovation Agency, Gedung 720, KST B.J. Habibie, Setu, South Tangerang, Indonesia
³ Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Diponegoro University, Jl, Prof. Soedharto SH, Tembalang, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
⁴ Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Diponegoro University, Jl, Prof. Soedharto SH, Tembalang, Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: hunny.fiesta@gmail.com

Abstract

The integrated system of physical and biological processes was applied in a real batik wastewater treatment. Coagulation using ferrous sulfate and flocculation using anionic polymer flocculant demonstrated a high pollutant efficiency of 71.8±5%. As a polishing unit, an upflow anaerobic filter (UAF) was designed and showed a high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 83.9±4%. Stable performance was achieved over a relatively long period, thanks to the adaptation of seed sludge. However, the UAF did not show any shock, primarily due to the significant removal of inhibitors in the physical process. The final effluent was able to meet the discharge standard of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), oil and grease, total chromium, ammonia, sulfide, and pH of 20 mg/L, 15.75±4 mg/L, 0.8 mg/L, < 0.01 mg/L, 1 mg/L, 0.1 mg/L, and 7.2, respectively. This demonstrates the potential of combining physical and biological processes for batik wastewater treatment, particularly as a decentralised system in a small-scale batik industry. Considering their economic efficiency, this system offers a superior and feasible option compared to other processes.