TREATMENT OF BATIK INDUSTRY WASTE WITH A COMBINATION OF ELECTROCOAGULATION AND PHOTOCATALYSIS

This study successfully investigated the treatment of batik industry waste with a combination of electrocoagulation and photocatalysis. The use of an aluminum plate as an anode, a stainless steel 316 plate as a cathode, and titanium dioxide (TiO2) coated on aluminum plates, the main materials in this method, resulted in the simultaneous decolorization of Remazol Red dye, elimination of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, and reduction of hexavalent chromium (Cr[VI]). For the TiO2 coating, a TiO2 suspension was applied to a sanded aluminum plate. Optimal performance of the combination of electrocoagulation and photocatalysis was achieved under operating conditions of 15 V DC electric voltage, an initial pH value of 7, and the use of an aeration flow. Under the operating conditions, 600 ml batik waste containing 5 mg/L 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 3 mg/L Cr(VI), and 390 PtCo Remazol Red dye were eliminated simultaneously within 4 hours with conversions of approximately 58%, 100%, and 97%, respectively.