International Journal of Physical Sciences Vol. 2 (3), pp.

061-067, March, 2007

Available online at http://www.academicjournals.org/IJPS
ISSN 1992 - 1950 2007 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Characterization and physicochemical treatment of

wastewater from rubber processing factory
Asia, I. O.1* and Akporhonor, E. E. 2
1

Department of Chemistry, Ambrose Alli University, P. M. B. 14 Ekpoma, Nigeria.

2
Department of Chemistry, Delta State University, Abraka Nigeria.
Accepted 9 March, 2007

Wastewater collected from rubber processing factory was characterized for their pollution
characteristic. Results of the analysis show that the total solids, TS, suspended solid, SS and dissolve
solid, DS, were 1528.5, 1078.5 and 450 mg/l respectively, the turbidity was 702 FTU. These values are
high when compared to Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) effluent discharge standard
for industrial wastewater. The dissolved oxygen content was 4.72 mg/l, the biochemical oxygen demand
(BOD) and Chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 2610.18 and 3142 mg/l respectively. The total bacterial
8
count was 6.0 x 10 /100 ml. These results show that the wastewater has high pollution potentials and so
need to be treated before discharged to the environment. The values for ammonia, Nitrate and
Phosphate were 1.49, 1.36, 1.32 mg/l respectively. Heavy metals contents were within FEPA effluent
discharge standard for industrial wastewater. The ratio of COD to BOD was 1.2:1, meaning that, the
extent of biodegradation of the wastewater from this factory is less than 50%. This shows that
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biological treatment may not be suitable for its treatment. It conductivity is 320 Scm suggesting that
the wastewater contain ions and so physicochemical method of coagulation and flocculation may be a
good alternative for the treatment of this wastewater. Physicochemical treatment of this wastewater
yielded substantial reduction in the solid concentration, BOD and COD, nitrate, phosphorus, and
bacteria counts and so the treated effluent could be discharged safely into the environment without the
fear of pollution.
Keywords: Wastewater, rubber processing factory, pollution, physicochemical treatment, effluent discharge
standard, environment.
INTRODUCTION
Industries are major sources of pollution in all environments. Based on the type of industry, various levels of
pollutants can be discharged into the environment directly
or indirectly through public sewer lines. Wastewater from
industries includes employees sanitary waste, process
wastes from manufacturing, washwaters and relatively
uncontaminated water from heating and cooling operations (Emongor et al., 2005).
Wastewater is an unavoidable by-product of rubber
processing: whatever processing procedures are used for
preparing products from latex, there will always be an
aqueous liquid as a by-product. About 60 percent of the
latex exuded by a rubber tree is water. Like any other

*Corresponding author. E-mail: imoasia2000@yahoo.com.

natural plant product, it contains a variety of substances

as well as the commercially important constituent, in this
case rubber hydrocarbon. Also present are proteins,
minerals, non-rubber hydrocarbons and carbohydrates. In
even the most efficient commercial extraction process,
the effluent water from a rubber factory will contain some
of each of these materials, together with any chemicals
that might have been added to make the process economically more efficient. If the wastewater is put straight
into surface waters wells, streams, lakes or even the
sea without any treatment, it will inevitably pollute that
water.
The increasing global concern on the environment demands that wastes should be properly managed in order
to minimize and possibly eliminate their potential harm to
public health and the environment.
In this work wastewater from rubber processing factory

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Int. J. Phys. Sci.

Figure 1. Mixer for coagulation and flocculation.

was characterized using some parameters of interest and

treated using four different coagulants/flocculants namely; alum, iron (III) chloride, lime and polyacrylamide partially hydrolysed with soda. The essence of this treatment
was to assess the extent to which these chemicals can
effect changes to the wastewater in question so as to
ensure proper and safety discharge to the environment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Determination of the optimum dosage of coagulant needed for

wastewater treatment
Four sets of wastewater samples were coagulated each with 100,
200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000, mg/l commercial
alum, Al2(SO4)3.14H2O, iron (III) chloride, FeCl3 , lime, Ca(OH)2 and
polyacrylamide partially hydrolysed with soda, (-CH2CH-COONa+)
in a mixer as shown in Figure 1.
Sand-bed filtration was carried out using Teflon to trap the suspended solids. The liquor was analysed for COD, and percentage
COD reductions were calculated. The highest point on a plot of %
COD reductions versus coagulant dosage gave the optimum
coagulants doses for the coagulants.

Sample collection
The wastewater was collected from the discharge unit of the rubber
processing sewage system with a Jerry can which has been thoroughly washed and rinsed with water. The wastewater sample used
for DO and BOD determinations were collected directly into dark
DO bottles and were added some drops of manganous sulphate
solution to fix the dissolve oxygen. After collection it was stored at
room temperature.

Methods of analysis
All samples were analyzed as described in the Standard Methods
for the Examination of Water and Wastewater and Standard
Methods for water and effluent analysis (APHA, 1995; Ademoroti,
1996a). Where analysis was not immediately possible, they were
preserved to inhibit biodegradation.
All the reagents used for the analysis were of analytical grade
and obtained from BDH Chemicals Limited Poole England.

Jar test experiment (coagulation studies)

For coagulation studies, jar tests were conducted. The objective of
the jar test was to determine the optimum dose and the pH value at
which a coagulant should be introduced to the wastewater (Asia
and Ademoroti, 2002; Asia and Oladoja, 2003). Stock solution of
alum, iron (III) chloride, hydrated lime and polyacrylamide partially
hydrolysed with soda used as coagulants were prepared fresh at
the time of the test.

Chemical treatment procedure

Four sets of wastewater samples were treated each with the
optimum doses of alum (Figure 3), iron (III) chloride (Figure 4), lime
(Figure 5) and polyacrylamide. A Teflon cloth placed on a sand bed
was used as the filter medium (Figure 2). The wastewater were
analysed for any chemical changes and disinfected with chlorine.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Results
As shown in Table 1.
Discussion
The effluent has a pH value of 8.1, which makes it alkaline. The high turbidity of 702 FTU shows that the colloidal matter in the wastewater was high and by implication,
the wastewater contains high solids concentration. The
total solids and the total dissolved solids were 1528.5 and
450 mg/l respectively. These values are within FEPA
standard for effluent discharge to surface waters in Nigeria. The suspended solid of 1078.5 mg/l is higher than 30
mg/l FEPA standard (FEPA, 1988). The effect of these
high values for solids could lead to difficulty in disposal.
The dissolved oxygen (DO) of 4.7 is relatively low. A
healthy body of water should have a DO of at least 5.2

Asia and Akporhonor

Figure 2. Sand-bed filtration unit.

Figure 3. Alum treatment of rubber processing waste water.

Figure 4. Iron (III) chloride treatment of rubber processing wastewater.

Figure 5. Lime treatment of rubber processing wastewater.

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Int. J. Phys. Sci.

Table 1. Results of characterization of wastewater from rubber processing factory.

Parameters
pH
Turbidity
Colour
Conductivity
Total suspended solid
Total dissolve solid
Total solid
Alkalinity
Biochemical oxygen demand
Chemical oxygen demand
Dissolved oxygen
Phosphate
Total Nitrogen
Ammonium-Nitrogen
Nitrate
Iron
Manganese
Copper
Zinc
Nickel
Chromium
Vanadium
Lead
Total Bacteria Counts

Unit
FTU
(Pt/Co)
-1
Scm
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
mg/l
/100ml

Range of values
6.2 9.4
689 752
2335 2650
187 380
998 1120
340 642
1322 1876
243 540
2210 3120
2765 4721
4.10 7.10
0.98 1.75
5.98 9.76
2.56 6.32
0.99 2.63
0.86 3.24.
0.08 0.67
0.001 0.008
0.010 0.032
0.005
0.001
0.001 - 002
0.006 0.34

Mean
8.1
702
2430
320
1078.5
450.0
1528.5
424.0
2610
3142
4.70
1.32
7.85
4.49
1.36
1.85
0.42
0.003
0.020
0.002
0.001
0.0021
0.211
4
6.0 x 10

All values are mean values of triplicate determinations.

mg/l (Ademoroti, 1996b). The value of Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand
(COD) were rather high, this mean that the wastewater
has high pollution potentials and therefore should be
treated before discharge into the environment. The result
also shows that the ratio of COD: BOD of 1.20:1. This
indicates that the extent of biodegradation of the wastewater from this factory is less than 50%. It has been
found that organic matters have about 50-90 percent
substrate biodegradation if the COD: BOD ratio ranges
between 2 and 3.5 (Quano et al., 1978). The wastewater
therefore may not be effectively treated by biological
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methods. A conductivity of 320 Scm indicates that the
wastewater contains ions, this suggests that physicochemical method (PCM) of coagulation and flocculation may
be used to treat this wastewater.
Nitrate-Nitrogen level is low compared to FEPA standard and the Ammonium-Nitrogen content of 1.49 mg/l is
higher than FEPA standard of 0.5 mg/l for industrial
wastewaters. If this wastewater containing high concentration of ammonium-Nitrogen is discharged to environment, depletion of receiving water body oxygen resources may set in as the ammonia is oxidized to Nitrate by
some group of bacteria. This can then promote plant and
algae growth, thus leading to eutrophication of the water

body. The presence of nitrate in water used to prepare

food for little babies may lead to blue-baby syndrome in
infant. Also, if high level of Ammonia is discharged to
water bodies, it could lead to death of some aquatic
organisms living in the water. The level of phosphate is
1.32mg/l, this is within FEPA standard.
Heavy metals result shows that the value of Fe, Mn,
Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, V and Pb were 1.85, 0.42, 0.003, 0.02,
0.002, 0.001, 0.021, 0.211 mg/l respectively. These
values are within FEPA standard for industrial wastewater.
Effect of PCM on treatment
Treatment of the wastewater by physicochemical method
yielded good results. Although, the solids concentration
increase by about 5 26%. These solids were almost
completely removed after filtration; this is shown in Figure
7, Oxygen Demand Characteristics. The results of the
BODs and CODs depicted in Figure 8 show that physicochemical method may be used to achieve a considerable
reduction in BOD and COD. The percentage BOD and
COD reduction achieved were in the range of 91 - 97%
and 89 - 97% before treatment with powdered activated

Asia and Akporhonor

065

Figure 6. Polyelectrolyte treatment of rubber processing wastewater.

Figure 7. Results of solids content before and after treatment with the
optimum doses of coagulants/flocculants.

Figure 8. Results of BOD and COD before and after treatment

with optimum doses of coagulants/flocculants.

carbon (PAC) and 98 - 98.9% BOD and 97 99% COD

reduction after treatment with PAC. (Results are shown in
Figure 8). Polyelectrolyte, an organic polymer proves

more effective and therefore, a better chemical for BOD

and COD reduction than any of these inorganic chemicals employed in this study (Figure 6).

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Int. J. Phys. Sci.

Figure 9. Results of nitrogens concentration before and after

treatment with optimum doses of coagulants/flocculants.

Figure 10. Results of phosphorus concentration before and after treatment

with optimum doses of coagulants/flocculants.

Figure 11. Results of total bacteria counts (TBC) before and after
treatment
with
optimum
doses
of
coagulants/flocculants.

Asia and Akporhonor

Nitrogens
The results of nitrogens concentration of physicochemically treated wastewater is depicted in Figure 9. From
the results, the total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), ammonia
nitrogen (NH3-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) were found
to reduce for the wastewater treated. Reductions were
more in wastewater treated with lime.

067

less than 2. Physicochemical treatment of the wastewater

yielded good solid reduction after filtration, high BOD and
COD reduction, High nitrate and phosphate reduction,
thus preventing eutrophication due to these undesirable
nutrients and also maximum bacteria kill. The wastewater
could therefore be discharged safely without the fear of
pollution.
REFERENCES

Phosphorus concentration
The results of phosphorus concentrations shown in
Figure 10 reveal that about 90 - 93 percent phosphorus
removal from the wastewater was achieved. Therefore, if
wastewater is to be discharged to water bodies, physicochemical method will be a preferred alternative, as it
ensures nutrient (nitrate and phosphate) removal before
discharged. This method therefore, minimized the fear of
eutrophication of water bodies caused by nitrate and
phosphates.
Bacteria reduction
The physicochemical method ensures maximum level of
bacteria kill before filtration. Sand bed filtration (shown in
Figure 2) was employed to ensure proper removal of
solids and other undesirable materials using teflon as the
filter medium. The effluent was passed over a column
packed with Powdered Activated Carbon (PAC). PAC is
known to adsorb detergents of alkyl benzene sulphonate
base, phenol, and phenolic compounds, organic toxicants
and odourant; hence the processed liquid would not
contain most of these substances after treatment
(Ademoroti, 1982; Ademoroti, 1994). The final effluents
were further treated with calcium oxochlorate (I) until
residual chlorine was between 0.2 0.7 mg/l (Figure 11)
(Henry and Gary, 1987). All bacteria remaining in the
processed liquid were killed off at this stage. The pH of
the effluents was corrected to neutral using lime or HCl
as the case may be.
Conclusion
The results of characterization of this water effluent show
that the water has high pollution potentials and so need
to be treated before disposal. However, biological method
was not found to be suitable as the COD:BOD ratio is

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