DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF COCONUT-SHELL ACTIVATED CARBON FOR COMMUNITY-SCALE TREATMENT OF AQUACULTURE WASTEWATER IN KALASIN PROVINCE, THAILAND

Authors

  • Anongnart Rotjanakorn Wangchamhan Faculty of Science and Health Technology, Kalasin University
  • Anucha Sriburum Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Technology, Kalasin University
  • Panatda Phothinam Faculty of Science and Health Technology, Kalasin University
  • Tanachapong Wangkhamhan Faculty of Science and Health Technology, Kalasin University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14456/lsej.2026.11

Keywords:

coconut-shell activated carbon, aquaculture wastewater, adsorption, ammonia-nitrogen, biomass valorization

Abstract

This study aimed to develop and evaluate the efficiency of coconut-shell activated carbon for treating wastewater from giant freshwater prawn ponds at the community scale in Kalasin Province, Thailand. The research was designed to enhance the value of local agricultural waste while reducing environmental impacts from aquaculture activities. The novelty of this study lies in the application of coconut-shell activated carbon to actual wastewater from community-based aquaculture systems, a context that has been less studied compared to laboratory-scale research, which primarily focuses on material preparation. The study consisted of three main stages: (1) production of activated carbon from coconut shells through controlled carbonization and chemical activation using phosphoric acid (H3PO4), (2) characterization of its physicochemical properties, including moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, and iodine adsorption value, and (3) evaluation of pollutant removal efficiency using actual wastewater collected from a community-based giant freshwater prawn farming enterprise in Buaban Subdistrict, Yang Talat District, Kalasin Province. The results showed that the activated carbon exhibited a high iodine adsorption capacity of 982.33 ± 4.93 Milligrams per gram, indicating strong adsorption performance. Batch jar test experiments demonstrated that the material reduced ammonia-nitrogen (NH3–N) by 34.21%, total suspended solids (TSS) by 34.85%, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) by 43.35%. These findings confirm that coconut-shell activated carbon has strong potential as a low-cost adsorbent for community-scale wastewater treatment. The material effectively reduced key pollutants, including ammonia-nitrogen, suspended solids, and total nitrogen, while improving water quality to conditions suitable for aquaculture. In addition, this approach promotes value-added utilization of biomass waste in alignment with the circular economy and Thailand’s Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) model, thereby supporting sustainable community development across environmental, economic, and social.

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Published

2026-05-21

How to Cite

Wangchamhan, A. R., Sriburum, A. ., Phothinam, P., & Wangkhamhan, T. . (2026). DEVELOPMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF COCONUT-SHELL ACTIVATED CARBON FOR COMMUNITY-SCALE TREATMENT OF AQUACULTURE WASTEWATER IN KALASIN PROVINCE, THAILAND. Life Sciences and Environment Journal, 27(1), 158–174. https://doi.org/10.14456/lsej.2026.11

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 1 (2026): January - June

Section

Research Articles

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