Malaysian Journal of Biochemistry
& Molecular Biology
(E-ISSN: 2600-9005)
The Official Publication of the Malaysian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (MSBMB)
Indexed by SCOPUS and Malaysian Citation Index (MYCITE)
NEW ANNOUNCEMENT
The MJBMB will be revising its publication fee for accepted papers from MYR250 to MYR300 effective 1st January 2026.
New submissions received from 1st January 2026 onwards will pay the new rate.
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Special Issue (1) 2026
Selected Papers from the:
Korea-Asean Joint Symposium on Biomass Utilisation and Renewable Energy 2024 & AFOB Regional Symposium 2025
Page range 1-67
DOI:
Page 22-29
Noor Mohd Syeqqal Ismail, Siti Fatimah Zaharah Mohamad Fuzi, Nasratun Masngut, Fathin Ayuni Azizan, Munira Mohamed Nazari and Yogan Jaya Kumar
INTEGRATED TREATMENT PERFORMANCE FOR CHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND REDUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE IN FOOD INDUSTRY WASTEWATER
Abstract
Effluents from the food sector are significant sources of organic pollutants, exhibiting elevated chemical oxygen demand (COD) values that present substantial environmental risks. This study assesses the operational performance and environmental compliance of an industrial wastewater treatment system at an animal feed manufacturing facility. This was achieved through 30 days of COD monitoring and an assessment of the leaching stability of hazardous materials using the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP). The treatment system used in this study combined chemical, biological, and adsorptive filtration processes. In the chemical stage, poly-aluminum chloride (PAC) and an anionic polymer were applied to coagulate and flocculate suspended solids and colloidal organic materials. Next, the wastewater underwent biological treatment using an extended-aeration activated-sludge process. Finally, a multimedia filtration unit containing sand, zeolite, and activated carbon was used to adsorb residual impurities and reduce turbidity, color, and dissolved organics. Every day, COD levels were recorded in both the influent and effluent streams. Statistical tests were used to assess the effectiveness of the treatment, including measures of central tendency, variability, and correlation, as well as significance testing. A three-year TCLP dataset was examined and compared with the limitations specified in Malaysia's Environmental Quality (Scheduled Wastes) Regulations 2005, which form part of the Environmental Quality Act (EQA) 1974. This procedure was done to assess potential long-term toxicity risks. The treatment system achieved an average COD removal efficiency of 97–99%, reducing influent COD concentrations from up to 15,000 mg/L to effluent levels between 23 and 160 mg/L. The TCLP data demonstrated that the regulated pollutants remained below the permissible limits. These results provide important information on the effectiveness of the treatment system and its environmental safety.