Optimization of Chitosan Dose

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 148 views

Study of Biokoagulan Use of Green Shells (Perna Viridis) as Water Purification With the Jar Test Method (Case Study: Belawan River)

Introduction

Water is a vital component in human life, with an estimated need for a minimum requirement of 100 liters of clean water per person every day. These needs include various activities, such as drinking, cooking, bathing, and washing. The river water treatment process can be done through physical, chemical, and biological methods. One chemical method commonly used is the addition of chemical compounds known as coagulants and floculants, which function to clear water. In this context, biocoagulants are an interesting alternative, because it comes from natural sources that can be found in the surrounding environment.

Biocoagulants, such as chitosan, are a natural biopolymer modified from chitin. Chitin itself is the main structural component of various marine organisms such as squid, shellfish, shrimp, and crab. This study aims to determine the optimum levels of chitosan from green shell shells in reducing turbidity and suspended solids in water, as well as evaluating optimum deposition times and economic value of chitosan compared to PAC (polyaluminium chloride).

Research Methodology

The stages of research include primary and secondary data collection, as well as raw water engineering which is divided into seven types of turbidity. The use of coagulant solution doses from green shell powder is also determined, with variations of doses ranging from 0 (control), 25 mg/l, 50 mg/l, 75 mg/l, 100 mg/l, 125 mg/l, 150 mg/l, up to 175 mg/l. The purification process is carried out by the jar test method to evaluate the efficiency of each dose.

Materials and Methods

The materials used in this study include green shell shells, chitosan, PAC, and raw water from the Belawan River. The methods used include the jar test method, which involves adding coagulant solution doses to the raw water and then stirring it for a certain period of time. The efficiency of each dose is then evaluated based on the reduction of turbidity and suspended solids.

Results and Discussion

The results showed that the most optimum dose to reduce turbidity is at a level of 25 mg/l, which succeeded in achieving the allowance efficiency by 72.18% for turbidity and 70.74% for total suspended solids (TSS). In addition, this study also identified optimum depositional time between 10 to 15 minutes, with the difference in the preliminary efficiency of 10.19% for turbidity and 9.47% for TSS.

From these results, it can be concluded that biocoagulants from green shells have a significant potential in the water purification process. The use of chitosan not only offers an environmentally friendly solution, but can also be a more economical choice compared to synthetic chemical coagulants such as PAC. This shows that the natural resources around us can be used to support the increasing needs of clean water, and encourage environmental sustainability.

Optimization of Chitosan Dose

The optimization of chitosan dose is a crucial step in the water purification process. The results showed that the most optimum dose to reduce turbidity is at a level of 25 mg/l. This dose succeeded in achieving the allowance efficiency by 72.18% for turbidity and 70.74% for TSS.

Optimization of Deposition Time

The optimization of deposition time is also a crucial step in the water purification process. The results showed that the optimum depositional time is between 10 to 15 minutes, with the difference in the preliminary efficiency of 10.19% for turbidity and 9.47% for TSS.

Economic Value of Chitosan

The economic value of chitosan is an important factor to consider in the water purification process. The results showed that the use of chitosan is a more economical choice compared to synthetic chemical coagulants such as PAC.

Conclusion

This study confirms the importance of exploring natural ingredients as an alternative in water purification. With promising results, the use of biocoagulants from green shells can be the first step towards more environmentally friendly water treatment. This research also opens opportunities for further research in the development of other biocoagulants that have the potential to improve water quality in various existing water sources.

Recommendations

Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations can be made:

Further research is needed to develop other biocoagulants that have the potential to improve water quality in various existing water sources.
The use of biocoagulants from green shells should be considered as an alternative to synthetic chemical coagulants in water treatment.
The optimization of chitosan dose and deposition time should be further investigated to improve the efficiency of the water purification process.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

The study was conducted using a small sample size, which may not be representative of the larger population.
The study only investigated the use of biocoagulants from green shells, and did not consider other natural ingredients that may have potential in water purification.
The study only evaluated the efficiency of the water purification process, and did not consider other factors such as cost and environmental impact.

Future Research Directions

Based on the results of this study, the following future research directions can be considered:

Developing other biocoagulants that have the potential to improve water quality in various existing water sources.
Investigating the use of other natural ingredients in water purification.
Evaluating the cost and environmental impact of biocoagulants in water treatment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study confirms the importance of exploring natural ingredients as an alternative in water purification. With promising results, the use of biocoagulants from green shells can be the first step towards more environmentally friendly water treatment. This research also opens opportunities for further research in the development of other biocoagulants that have the potential to improve water quality in various existing water sources.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Biokoagulan Use of Green Shells (Perna Viridis) as Water Purification

Q: What is biokoagulan?

A: Biokoagulan is a type of coagulant that is derived from natural sources, such as plants, animals, or microorganisms. In this study, we used biokoagulan from green shells (Perna viridis) as a water purification agent.

Q: What is the purpose of using biokoagulan in water purification?

A: The purpose of using biokoagulan in water purification is to remove impurities and contaminants from water, making it safe for human consumption. Biokoagulan can help to reduce turbidity, suspended solids, and other pollutants in water.

Q: How does biokoagulan work in water purification?

A: Biokoagulan works by attracting and aggregating impurities and contaminants in water, making it easier to remove them through sedimentation or filtration. The biokoagulan molecules bind to the impurities, forming larger particles that can be easily removed from the water.

Q: What are the benefits of using biokoagulan in water purification?

A: The benefits of using biokoagulan in water purification include:

Environmentally friendly: Biokoagulan is derived from natural sources, making it a more environmentally friendly option compared to synthetic chemical coagulants.
Cost-effective: Biokoagulan can be more cost-effective than synthetic chemical coagulants, especially for large-scale water treatment applications.
Improved water quality: Biokoagulan can help to improve water quality by reducing turbidity, suspended solids, and other pollutants.

Q: What are the limitations of using biokoagulan in water purification?

A: The limitations of using biokoagulan in water purification include:

Limited availability: Biokoagulan may not be readily available in all regions, making it difficult to access.
Limited scalability: Biokoagulan may not be suitable for large-scale water treatment applications.
Limited effectiveness: Biokoagulan may not be as effective as synthetic chemical coagulants in certain water treatment applications.

Q: Can biokoagulan be used in other water treatment applications?

A: Yes, biokoagulan can be used in other water treatment applications, such as:

Wastewater treatment: Biokoagulan can be used to remove impurities and contaminants from wastewater.
Industrial water treatment: Biokoagulan can be used to remove impurities and contaminants from industrial water.
Drinking water treatment: Biokoagulan can be used to improve the quality of drinking water.

Q: How can biokoagulan be produced?

A: Biokoagulan can be produced through various methods, including:

Extraction from natural sources: Biokoagulan can be extracted from natural sources, such as plants, animals, or microorganisms.
Fermentation: Biokoagulan can be produced through fermentation of microorganisms.
Chemical synthesis: Biokoagulan can be produced through chemical synthesis.

Q: What are the future directions for biokoagulan research?

A: The future directions for biokoagulan research include:

Developing new biokoagulants: Researchers are working to develop new biokoagulants with improved performance and effectiveness.
Scaling up biokoagulan production: Researchers are working to scale up biokoagulan production to meet the demands of large-scale water treatment applications.
Evaluating biokoagulan in different water treatment applications: Researchers are working to evaluate the effectiveness of biokoagulan in different water treatment applications.

Q: How can I get involved in biokoagulan research?

A: If you are interested in getting involved in biokoagulan research, you can:

Contact researchers: Contact researchers who are working on biokoagulan projects to learn more about their work and potential opportunities for collaboration.
Join research institutions: Join research institutions that are working on biokoagulan projects to gain access to resources and expertise.
Participate in conferences: Participate in conferences and workshops to learn about the latest developments in biokoagulan research and network with other researchers.