Evaluation of Malaysian Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. for oily water filtration using factorial design

A packed-bed column was developed to study the performance of Ceiba pentandra (L). Gaertn. (kapok) for oily
water filtration using a three-level, two-factor factorial design. This was based on the effects of packing density
and flow rates on chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity of the effluent. CODwas significantly affected by
the quadratic effects of flowrates. The optimum packing density and flowrate forminimumCODwere predicted
at 0.07 g/cm3 and 1.09 L/h,whichwerewithin the range tested. About 99% of CODreductionswere observed at all
packing densities and flow rates. Similarly, more than 87% of turbidity reductions were achieved at all packing
densities and flow rates. A deep-bed kapok filtration column constructed in this study had been successful in
achieving oily water separation under different packing densities and flow rates. The oil and water front
movements were shown to be influenced by the affinity of liquid to kapok fibers. Thismay suggest the excellent
physicochemical property of Malaysian kapok for oil removal from water.