Removal of oil and grease in wastewater using palm kernel shell activated carbon

Oil and grease wastewater is produced from many sources such as industry and municipal. The discharge of oil and grease in wastewater system causes bad effect towards the environment and also the wastewater system itself. Palm Kernel Shells (PKS), an agriculture waste was chosen to see its ability in removing oil and grease in wastewater. The PKS was carbonized in furnace (400°C), activated with KOH and carbonized again in furnace (800°C).The parameter affecting oil and grease removal such as different oil and grease concentration, contact time and flow rate were studied. The oil and grease removal study was conducted by the column adsorption method and followed by the gravimetric method to identify the remaining oil and grease. PKS activated carbon present at 1% oil and grease percentage show the highest removal of 99.93% of oil and grease among all other oil and grease concentrations. The slower flow rate, 1 mL/min shows the overall higher percentage removal of 99.89% of oil and grease. SEM micrograph of PKS activated carbon after adsorption oil and grease shows that oil and grease has covered the pores of the surface of the PKS activated carbon. Overall, the PKS activated carbon has the ability in removing oil and grease which indicates that PKS can be used as a natural adsorbent in removing oil and grease.