Literature review on ability of agricultural crop residues and agro-industrial waste for treatment of wastewater

Authors

• Nur Hidayat * ¹
• Sri Suhartini ¹
• Tutut Arinda ²
• Elviliana Elviliana ¹
• Lynsey Melville ³

1. Department of Agro-industrial Technology, Faculty of Agricul-tural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, Indonesia
2. Bioresource and Bioeconomy Research Group, Faculty of Com-puting, Engineering and Built Environment, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom
3. Uioresource and Bioeconomy Research Group, Faculty of Com-puting, Engineering and Built Environment, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom

Abstract

Purpose Agricultural crop residues (ACR) and agro-industrial waste (AIW) are abundant in Indonesia and primarily used as substitutes for cattle feed or to be naturally decomposed in the nearby environment. This review attempts to examine the potential valorisation of ACR and AIW into biosorbent. This paper also provides the challenges and opportunities in applying wastewater biosorption treatment in Indonesia.
Method A literature review from available literature was carried out to reveal and explore the ability and prospective application of ACR and AIW   for treatment of wastewater
Results The reviews show that ACR and AIW can be used for wastewater treatment in different forms including: filter media, activated carbon, biosorbent and biochar. Activated carbon has demonstrated its high ability and efficiency in removing organic pollutants in wastewater. This is due to its large porosity, internal surface area, and mechanical strength. ACR and AIW in wastewater biosorption can be applied in any small-scale agro-industries because of their simplicity procedures, technology, and low cost. Various options of wastewater technologies have also been investigated in recent years. Yet, various issues have been aroused surrounding this technology, including the biosorptive capacity, the performance-effectiveness, the design, and the high operation costs.
Conclusion The study found that problems of a high cost of carbonation and activation process, the needs of regeneration treatment, and the up-scaling or commercialization might hinder the sustainable valorisation of ACR and AIW.

Highlights

• Agricultural crop residues (ACR) and agro-industrial waste (AIW) is sustainable feedstock for wastewater treatment
• ACR and AIW as biosorbent or activated carbon are highly effective for removing pollutants
• The structure of biosorbent from ACR and AIW facilitate different mechanism in pollutants removal
• Utilisation of ACR and AIW may offer an eco-friendly wastewater treatment
• Challenges remain on biosorption capacity, process’s efficacy, and high operation cost

Keywords

• Agricultural and agro-industrial waste
• Eco-friendly wastewater treatment
• Natural biosorbent
• Pollutants removal
• Activated carbon