Optimizing Mechanized Dosage Systems for Enhanced Nitrogen Removal Efficiency in Industrial Wastewater Treatment

This study investigates the effectiveness of bio-waste, specifically cassava and plantain peels, as absorbents for industrial wastewater treatment.. Given the environmental and health risks associated with nitrogen pollution,. Therefore, treating wastewater with environmentally friendly bioagents is essential before its release. This research aims to develop a sustainable, efficient, and economically viable wastewater treatment approach that minimizes nitrogen pollution and supports environmental conservation efforts .To prepare the absorbents, the peels were sun-dried, cleaned and pulverized into a fine powder using a sterilized industrial electric food mill. The pulverized peels were soaked in a 50% concentrated sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide solution for two hours to ensure complete saturation respectively. A 250 mL wastewater sample was inoculated with the prepared bio-absorbents, and the rate of absorbance was measured using a UV spectrophotometer. The statistical analysis of absorbent dosing effects on nitrogen removal was done using response surface methodology (RSM) in Design Expert (version 13). The generated models identified the optimal process parameters. Functional groups were analyzed using infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The results demonstrated the efficacy of the bio-absorbents in enhancing nitrogen removal from wastewater. Numerical optimization revealed that acid-impregnated plantain peels achieved the highest nitrogen removal efficiency of 92% under optimal conditions, with a dosage of 1.011 g. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) yielded a high coefficient of determination (R² = 99.9%), validating the model's reliability. This study demonstrates a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to expensive commercial chemical absorbents while promoting waste recycling for environmental sustainability.