Malays. J. Anal. Sci. Volume 29 Number 2 (2025): 1290

 

Research Article

 

Photocatalytic reactor incorporating modified zinc oxide Acorus calamus nanoparticles to remediate anaerobic palm oil mill effluent

 

Noor Atiqah Zuraini1, Dilaeleyana Abu Bakar Sidik2*, Sham Darwish Shamhan2, Nur Hanis Hayati Hairom 1,3, Siti Samahani Suradi2, Rais Hanizam Madon4, Zarizi Awang1, Nor Hazren Abdul Hamid1, Raudah Mohd Adnan2, and Norhazimah Abdul Halim2

 

1Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Hab Pendidikan Tinggi Pagoh, KM1, Jalan Panchor 86400, Muar, Johor, Malaysia

2Centre for Diploma Studies, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Pagoh Higher Education Hub, Pagoh, Muar, 84600, Malaysia

3Microelectronic and Nanotechnology - Shamsuddin Research Centre, Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Parit, Raja, Batu Pahat, 86400, Malaysia

4Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Parit, Raja, Batu Pahat, 86400, Malaysia

 

*Corresponding author: dila@uthm.edu.my

 

Received: 2 September 2024; Revised: 21 January 2025; Accepted: 11 March 2025; Published: 25 April 2025

 

Abstract

Massive amounts of pollutants in anaerobic palm oil mill effluent (APOME) can raise environmental and ecological issues. Thus, this study aimed to treat APOME using a photocatalytic reactor incorporating zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) and Acorus calamus (ACal) as green capping agent. The photocatalytic activity of various types of ZnO–ACal NPs in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), turbidity, and color removal efficiency was investigated. The results of this study suggested that ZnO–ACal NPs 3:1 and pH 6 were the best for removing color (~50%), turbidity (~90%), and COD (~80–90%) more effectively. This behavior was influenced by ZnO-ACal NPs' characteristics from the SEM image, which contrasted commercial ZnO, with the creation of uniform, small particles. It can be concluded that altering the synthesis conditions to produce particular nanoparticle characteristics can improve the breakdown of APOME organic contaminants during the photocatalytic process. The results of this study can serve as a guide for enhancing water quality for recycling and guaranteeing the nation's access to safe water. 

 

Keywords: Photocatalytic, nanoparticles, Acorus calamus, anaerobic palm oil mill effluent, zinc oxide, photocatalyst. 

 

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