Effectiveness of Ultrafiltration Membrane Technology Combined with Zeolite–Ginger Coral Adsorbent in pH, TDS, EC, Fe, and Mn in Groundwater for Clean Water Production

Susanti, Susi
Muhammad Rendana
Selpiana
Nina Haryani
Budi Santoso
Prahady Susmanto
Aminullah, Mohammad Wahyu
Hendrik Jimmyanto
Deby Ansyory
Nyimas Ulfatry Utami
Robekca Purba
Agbal Andrean
Zikri Rahman Rizal
Afriza Citra Rahmadhini
Halimah Maulidia

IJEMS (Indonesian Journal of Environmental Management and Sustainability)
Vol. 10 No. 2 (2026): June

Groundwater is a vital water source for many communities, especially in rural areas, but its quality often fails to meet clean water standards due to contaminants such as heavy metals, organic compounds, and unsuitable pH, TDS, and EC levels. This study examines an integrated water treatment system combining adsorption and ultrafiltration technologies. The process begins with adsorption using zeolite and coral ginger stone to remove contaminants through ion exchange and Van der Waals interactions. The pre-treated water is then filtered through an ultrafiltration membrane to eliminate suspended solids and microorganisms based on pore size exclusion. The novelty of this study lies in the variation of adsorbent compositions, namely 100 g zeolite, 100 g coral ginger stone, and a 50:50 g mixture. Results indicate that the 50:50 combination provides the highest efficiency in improving groundwater quality. Under optimal conditions, TDS decreased to 38 ppm, EC to 76 µS/cm, temperature reached 29.8 °C, and pH approached neutral at 6.28, meeting clean water standards.