MeSorp potential to reduce heavy metal in wastewater.

1. PROJECT LEADER:
MARIAH BINTI CHE MAMAT
TEAM MEMBERS:
1) Abdul Aziz Bin Mohd Azoddein
2) Mohamad Tahfiz bin Mohamad Tajuddin
Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering
University Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak,
26300 Kuantan, Pahang Darul Makmur

2.  Spent caustic or used caustic soda generated from
the scrubbing process in the petroleum refinery
industry.
 The spent caustic is treated by using adsorption
method of natural product based adsorbent
(MeSorp).
 The treated spent caustic is tested for its COD, OG
and BOD5 concentration, pH and temperature.

3.  Spent caustic from the KTU tank typically has high Chemical
Oxygen Demand (COD), ranging from 50 000 mg/L to 150 000
mg/L (Felch et al., 2012).
 Spent caustic is highly corrosive due to the high pH because it
typically has pH more than 12 (Heidarinasab & Hashemi, 2011).
 Spent caustic from the KTU have high OG concentration,
ranging from 59-72 mg/L (Hawari, 2014). Spent caustic also has
high BOD5 concentration from KTU, ranging 323-33426 mg/L
(Attiogbe et al., 2002).

4.  It is highly toxic to both environment and human as well
when discharged to water bodies without treatment.
 Spent caustic wastewater can cause serious corrosion to the
eyes. It may also cause serious irritation, redness and tearing,
blurred vision and conjunctivitis and at last blindness.
 If spent caustic is released to water or soil, constituents will
remain in the soil because it is not likely to volatilize to the
atmosphere.

5.  To determine the effectiveness of natural product
based adsorbent (MeSorp) to treat the petroleum
refinery industrial wastewater by using
adsorption method.

6. Analysis of untreated spent
caustic wastewater
samples for its COD, OG,
BOD5, pH and temperature.
Run adsorption process
with 60 g, 70g , 80 g and 90
g of charcoal and coconut
husk.
Analysis of treated spent
caustic wastewater
samples for COD, OG,
BOD5, pH and temperature.

8. Untreated spent caustic (Left) and Treated spent caustic (Right)

9. Attiogbe, F.K., Mary Glover-Amengor & Nyadziehe, K.T. (2002). Correlating Biochemical and
Chemical Oxygen Demand of Effluents – A Case Study of Selected Industries in Kumasi,
Ghana. Retrieved from http://iess.ug.edu.gh/wajae/index.php/volume-11
2007?download=238:11-correlating-biochemical-and-chemical-oxygen-demand-of-effluents-
a-case-study-of-selected-industries-in-kumasi-ghana
Felch, C., Clarck, M. & Kumfer, B. (n.d.) Wet Air Oxidation Pre-Treatment of Spent Caustic for
Discharge To Biological Wastewater Treatment Allowing for Water Recovery and Reuse.
Retrieved from http://www.sawea.org/pdf/waterarabia2013/Session_B/
Wet_Air_Oxidation_Pre_Treatment_of_Spent_Caustic_for_Discharge_to_Biological_Waste
water_Treatment_Allowing_for_Water_Recovery_and_Reuse.pdf
Hawari, A., Ramadan, H., Reesh, I.B., Ouederni, M. (2014). A comparative study of the treatment
of ethylene plant spent caustic by neutralization and classical and advanced oxidation.
Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301479714006173#
Heidarinasab, A. & Hashemi, S.R. (2011). A Study of Biological treatment of Spent Sulfidic
Caustic. Retrieved from http://psrcentre.org/images/extraimages/1211287.pdf