Development of Wastewater Treatment System for Coconut-Based Food Production

Abstract

Coconut-based food production, particularly coconut jelly processing, is a key industry among SMEs in Samut Songkhram province. However, a manufacturing process generates a large volume of wastewater per day that released into the surface water causing water pollution and foul odors. This study aims to develop and implement an appropriate wastewater treatment system for coconut jelly and white coconut meat processing industries, with the goal of establishing practical design specifications for SME applications. The design of the developed wastewater treatment system depends on the volume of wastewater generated from the production process. The treatment system consists of an anaerobic pond (serving as a combined equalization and grease trap pond), an aeration pond, and a sedimentation pond. In 2024, the pilot plant wastewater treatment system for coconut jelly production was installed at SME entrepreneurs in Samut Songkhram province. The pilot plant wastewater system has been designed for the influent 5 m3/day. The designed consist of (1) 25 m3 anaerobic pond with retention time 5 day, (2) the 6 m3 aeration pond with oxygen transfer rate 5.3 Kg.O2 /day, retention time 1.2 day and (3) 1.8 m3 sedimentation pond with retention time of 0.4 day.

The results indicate that, when compared with the Notification of the ministry of natural resources and environment on the establishment of wastewater discharge standards from small enterprises producing goods or providing specific services, B.E. 2564 (Group 2). The results of the implementation of this system demonstrate that the effluent pH of 6.1 – 6.4, within the standard range (5.5 – 9.0). BOD ranged from 5 – 58 mg/L, meeting the standard (≤60 mg/L) with 96.77 – 98.27% removal. TSS ranged 6 – 20 mg/L, within the standard (≤ 50 mg/L), with 87.26 – 97.62% removal. Oil and grease were undetectable, achieving 100% removal (≤ 20 mg/L).

The developed wastewater treatment system effectively reduced organic pollutants and improved effluent quality, providing a sustainable and practical model for wastewater management in coconut-processing SMEs.