ECO-ENZYME APPLICATION STUDY ON TEXTILE INDUSTRY WASTE-ACTIVATED SLUDGE IN pH, MLSS, MLVSS, AND ORGANIC CONTENT PERCENTAGE (STUDY CASE: WWTP-1 JABABEKA)

Abstract

The textile industry significantly contributes to wastewater pollution, generating toxic effluent with dyes and organic matter. Biological treatment using activated sludge produces waste-activated sludge (WAS), which contains moisture, organic contaminants, heavy metals, and pathogens, posing environmental risks. This study investigates the potential of eco-enzymes—fermented organic liquids from organic waste—as a sustainable solution for managing WAS. It evaluated changes in pH, mixed-liquor suspended solids (MLSS), mixed-liquor volatile

suspended solids (MLVSS), and organic matter content after adding 10% eco- enzymes made from orange, pineapple peel, and mixed organic matter to WAS

from a textile wastewater treatment plant in an anaerobic system over 8 days. Results showed that eco-enzymes significantly reduced the pH of the sludge from 8.13 to 5.15, compared to a control that decreased to 7.45. The pineapple

peel eco-enzyme reduced MLSS by 32% and MLVSS by 35%, while mixed- organic matter eco-enzyme led to reductions of 29% for MLSS and 31% for

MLVSS. The orange eco-enzyme showed the highest reduction, with decreases of 35% for MLSS and 38% for MLVSS. However, the control sludge samples exhibited a higher reduction in organic content (12.12%) compared to those with eco-enzymes (5.6%). While eco-enzymes significantly lowered pH and contributed to reductions in MLSS and MLVSS, variations in statistical significance were noted. Pineapple peel and mixed-organic waste enzymes showed no effect on MLSS reduction on day 4, and mixed-organic waste

enzymes were insignificant for MLVSS reduction on day 8. Overall, eco- enzymes effectively aided in the degradation of textile sludge, necessitating

careful monitoring of pH levels.