Optimization of a Produced Water Filtration System Using Zinc Chloride-Activated Candlenut Adsorbent and Internet of Things Integration

The use of walnut shells as a filtration medium has long been common in oil fields to meet environmental standards before injection into reservoirs or discharge into surface water bodies. To reduce walnut imports, a promising alternative adsorbent made from local candlenut (kemiri) shells has been developed. Enhancing the adsorption capacity of these local candlenut shells presents a challenge, and this study aims to improve their characteristics by optimizing pore structure and filtration processes through temperature engineering and water characterization using the Internet of Things (IoT). Applying this technology represents a positive step towards more efficient oil-water separation in produced water treatment, leveraging locally sourced and eco-friendly resources. This research evaluates the effectiveness of both untreated and chemically activated candlenut shells as adsorption media, with a focus on separating oil from produced water. The methodology includes preparing adsorbents from candlenut shells activated with zinc chloride, followed by filtration and backwash processes using these activated shells as adsorption media. The study assesses adsorbent performance by filter type and characterizes adsorbent properties through bulk density testing, SEM-EDX, and BET analysis. Filtration efficiency is examined under engineered temperatures to evaluate oil and solid removal effectiveness, with IoT-enabled water characterization tracking reductions in turbidity, TDS, and adsorbed oil content. Results show that the unmodified candlenut shell (KMR) has a bulk density of 0.7577 g/cm 3 , while the chemically activated shell (KMR+ZC) achieves a lower bulk density of 0.7319 g/cm 3 . SEM analysis further reveals a significant increase in porosity following chemical activation. In turbidity testing, KMR stabilized at 500 NTU after 300 seconds, while KMR+ZC reached 900 NTU at the same time point before stabilizing. KMR+ZC maintained TDS levels around 300 ppm, while KMR showed TDS stability near 1200 ppm. In oil content testing, KMR demonstrated an adsorption efficiency of 95%, whereas KMR+ZC reached a higher efficiency of 97.5%. The integration of IoT in this system enhances monitoring accuracy through real-time measurements of turbidity, TDS, and oil content, providing continuous and precise data for assessing adsorption performance.