Assessing natural coagulants as potential substitutes for water treatment - A sustainable approach to raw water

Banupriya G; J  Rajasekar

doi:10.62638/ZasMat1641

Authors

Gunasekaran Banupriya Department of Civil Engineering, Sri Ganesh College of Engineering and Technology, Puducherry, India Author https://orcid.org/0009-0002-8783-1984
Janakiraman Rajasekar Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sri Ganesh of Engineering and Technology, Puducherry, India Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7874-4593

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62638/ZasMat1641

Abstract

Natural raw water's quality has decreased as a result of several health and environmental risks brought on by industrialization, urbanization, demographic change, etc. Natural-based coagulants are used frequently to remove pollutants since they are accessible, affordable, eco-friendly, and quickly biodegrade as compared to inorganic-based coagulants. This natural-based coagulant is employed in this study to minimize raw water turbidity and boost drinking water quality. The raw water is taken from the Kalyani dam, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, and the coagulants such as Strychnos potatorum (SP), Ocimum sanctum (OS), and Citrus sinensis (CS) are used in this research. These natural coagulants are first cleaned, rinsed with tap water, dried, crushed, and then finely sieved to produce a powder. The turbidity achieved the best removal efficiency for Strychnos potatorum, Ocimum sanctum, and Citrus sinensis is 89%, 78%, and 72%, respectively. Other water quality measures, including alkalinity, hardness, pH, and total dissolved solids, are also evaluated to determine the coagulant's performance in the treatment of drinking water. The outcomes demonstrated that natural coagulants performed consistently well concerning water parameters. Thus, natural coagulants are excellent alternatives to chemical coagulants or coagulant aids, particularly in developing areas.

Keywords:

Coagulation, efficiency , Strychnos potatorum, Ocimum sanctum, Citrus sinensis

References

S.Y. Choy, K.M.N. Prasad, T.Y. Wu, M.E. Raghunandan,R.N.Ramanan(2014) Utilization of plant-based natural coagulants as future alternatives towards sustainable water clarification, J. of environmental sciences 26(11),2178 – 2189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2014.09.024.

T. Nasrabadi, P.A. Maedeh(2014) Groundwater quality degradation of urban areas (case study: Tehran city, Iran), Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 11 (2), 293–302. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-013-0340-y.

A. Kaji, M. Taheriyoun, A. Taebi, M. Nazari-Sharabian (2019) Comparison and optimization of the performance of natural-based non-conventional coagulants in a water treatment plant, J. of Water Supply: Research and Technology—Aquap.28-38. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2019.075.

L.C. Staicu, E.D. Hullebusch, M.A. Oturan, C.J. Ackerson, P.N. Lens (2015) Removal of colloidal biogenic selenium from wastewater, Chemosphere 125, 130–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2014.12.018.

S. Nimesha, C. Hewawasam, D.J. Jayasanka, Y.Murakami, N. Araki, N. Maharjan (2022) Effectiveness of natural coagulants in water and wastewater treatment, Global J. Environ. Sci. Manage. 8(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.22034/gjesm.2022.01.08.

T.K.F.S. Freitas, C.A. Almeida, D.D. Manholer, H.C.L. Geraldino, M.T.F. de Souza, J.C. Garcia (2018)Review of Utilization Plant-Based Coagulants as Alternatives to Textile Wastewater Treatment, in: Muthu, S. (eds) Detox Fashion, Textile Science and Clothing Technology, Springer, Singapore,pp. 27-79. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-4780-0_2.

G. Muthuraman, S. Sasikala (2014)Removal of turbidity from drinking water using natural coagulants, J. Ind. Eng. Chem. 20 (4), 1727–1731. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jiec.2013.08.023.

I. Lou, S. Gong, X. Huang, Y. Liu (2012)Coagulation optimization for low temperature and low turbidity source water using combined coagulants: a case study,Desalin. Water Treat.46 (1-3), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2012.677415.

S.B. Kurniawan, S.R.S. Abdullah, M.F. Imron, N.S.M, Said, N. Ismail, H.A. Hasan, A.R. Othman, I.F. Purwanti (2020)Challenges and Opportunities of Biocoagulant / Bioflocculant Application for Drinking Water and Wastewater Treatment and Its Potential for Sludge Recovery, Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health, 17(24)9319, 1-33. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249319.

V. Kumar, N. Othman,S.M, Asharuddin (2017) Applications of natural coagulants to treat wastewater – a review, MATEC Web Conf. 103, 06016. https://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201710306016.

F.P. Camacho, V.S. Sousa,R. Bergamasco, M.R. Teixeira (2017) The use of Moringaoleifera as a natural coagulant in surface water treatment, Chem. Eng. J. 313, 226–237. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2016.12.031.

F.B. Rebah, S. Siddeeg (2017)Cactus an eco-friendly material for wastewater treatment: A review, J. Mater. Environ. Sci. 8,1770– 1782.

N.A. Awang, H.A. Aziz (2012)Hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaf extract as coagulant aid in leachate treatment, Appl. Water Sci. 2(4),293–298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-012-0045-0.

A. Benalia, K. Derbal, A. Panico, F. Pirozzi (2019)Use of Acorn Leaves as a Natural Coagulant in a Drinking Water Treatment Plant, Water Res. 11(3), 557. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11030557.

M.B. Fard, D. Hamidi, K. Yetilmezsoy, J. Alavi, F. Hosseinpour (2021) Utilization of Alyssum mucilage as a natural coagulant in oily-saline wastewater treatment, J. Water Process Eng. 40, 101763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2021.101763.

Z. Dollah, A.R.C. Abdullah, N.M. Hashim, A. Albar, S. Badrealam, M.Zaki (2019) Citrus fruit peel waste as a source of natural coagulant for water turbidity removal, J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 1349, 012011. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1349/1/012011.

B.S. Marina, J.M. Prodanovi, V.K. Dragana, N.T. Aleksandra, A.V. Mirjana (2015) Extracts of fava bean (Vicia faba L.) seeds as natural coagulants, Ecol. Eng. 84, 229–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.09.008.

W. Subramonian, T.Y. Wu, S. Chai (2014)A comprehensive study on coagulant performance and floc characterization of natural Cassia obtusifolia seed gum in treatment of raw pulp and paper mill effluent, Ind. Crops Prod. 61,317–324. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2014.07.024.

A. Daverey, N.Tiwari, K. Dutta (2019)Utilization of extracts of Musa paradisica (banana) peels and Dolichos lablab (Indian bean) seeds as low-cost natural coagulants for turbidity removal from water, Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 26 (33), 34177–34183. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06341-7.

S.C. Chua, M.A. Malek,F.K. Chong, W. Sujarwo, Y.C. Ho (2019)Red lentil (Lens culinaris) extract as a novel natural coagulant for turbidity reduction: An evaluation, characterization and performance optimization study, Water 11(8), 1686. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11081686.

T. Yarahmadi, M. Peyda, M.M. Fazli, R. Rezaeian, N. Soleimani (2016)Comparison of water turbidity removal efficiencies of Descurainiasophia seed extract and ferric chloride, J. of Hum. Environ. Health Promot. 1 (2), 118–124.

V.T. Gaikwad, G.R. Munavalli (2019)Turbidity removal by conventional and ballasted coagulation with natural coagulants, Appl. Water Sci. 9:130. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-019-1000-3.

P. Arunkumar, V. Sadish Kumar, S. Saran, H.Bindun, S.P. Devipriya (2019)Isolation of proactive coagulant protein from the seeds of Strychnospotatorum- a potential water treatment agent, Enviro. Tech.40(12),1624-1632. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593330.2018.1504204.

V. Kumar, N. Othman, S.M. Asharuddin (2020) Partial replacement of alum by using natural coagulant aid to remove turbidity from institutional wastewater, Int. J. of integrated eng. 12(4), 241-251. https://doi.org/10.30880/ijie.2020.12.04.023.

Z. Song, Y. Zhao, X.C. Song, C. Liu (2009)Research on prediction model of optimal coagulant dosage in water purifying plant based on neural network, ISECS Int. Colloq. on Comput. Commun.Control and Manag. 4, 258– 261. https://doi.org/10.1109/CCCM.2009.5267757.

T.H. Ang, K. Kiatkittipong, W. Kiatkittipong, S.C. Chua, J.W. Lim, P.L. Show, M.J.K. Bashir, Y.C. Ho (2020)Insight on Extraction and Characterisation of Biopolymers as the Green Coagulants for Microalgae Harvesting, Water 12(5),1388. https://doi.org/10.3390/w12051388.

L. Muruganandam, M.S. Kumar, A. Jena, S. Gulla, B. Godhwani (2017)Treatment of waste water by coagulation and flocculation using biomaterials, IOP Conf. Series: Materials Sci. Eng. 263, 032006. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/263/3/032006.

S. Gautam, G. Saini (2020)Use of natural coagulants for industrial wastewater treatment, Glob. J. Environ. Sci. Manage. 6, 553–578. https://doi.org/10.22034/gjesm.2020.04.06.

W.L. Ang, A.W. Mohammad (2020)State of the art and sustainability of natural coagulants in water and wastewater treatment, J. Clean. Product. 262, 121267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121267.

A. Benalia, K. Derbal, A. Khalfaoui, R. Bouchareb, A. Panico, C. Gisonni, G. Crispino, F. Pirozzi, A. Pizzi (2021)Use of Aloe vera as an Organic Coagulant for Improving Drinking Water Quality, Water 13(15), 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13152024.

R. Divakaran, V.S. Pillai (2002)Flocculation of river silt using chitosan, Water Research 36 (9),2414–2418. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0043-1354(01)00411-4.

K. Jayaram, I.Y.L.N. Murthy, H.Lalhruaitluanga, M.N.V. Prasad (2009)Biosorption of lead from aqueous solution by seed powder of Strychno-spotatorum L., Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 71(2),248–54. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2009.02.016.

C-Y. Yin (2010)Emerging usage of plant-based coagulants for water and wastewater treatment, Process Biochem. 45, 1437–1444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procbio.2010.05.030.

M. Adinolfi, M.M. Corsaro, R. Lanzetta, M. Parrilli, G. Folkard, W. Grant, J. Sutherland (1994)Composition of the coagulant polysaccharide fraction from Strychnospotatorum seeds, Carbohydr. Res. 263(1), 103–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/0008-6215(94)84022-1.

K. Karthikeyan, P. Gunasekaran, N. Ramamurthy, S. Govindasamy (1999)Anticancer activity of Ocimum sanctum, Pharm Bio. 37(4),285–290. https://doi.org/10.1076/phbi.37.4.285.6327.

Y.Q. Liu, E. Heying, S.A.Tanumihardjo (2012)History, global distribution, and nutritional importance of citrus fruits, Compr. Rev. Food Sci. Food Saf. 11,530-545. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-4337.2012.00201.x.

Y.C. Ho, N. Ismail, A.F.M. Alkarkhi, N. Morad (2010)Reuse of fruit waste as biopolymeric flocculant and optimizing turbidity reduction : comparison study with industrial flocculant, J. Environ. Eng. 136, 1267–1276. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000252.

Y. Yue, G. An, L. Lin, H. Demissie, X. Yang, R. Jiao, D. Wang (2022) Design and coagulation mechanism of a new functional composite coagulant in removing humic acid, Sep.Purif. Technol. 292,121016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2022.121016.

V. Saritha, M.K. Karnena, B.K. Dwarapureddi (2019)Exploring natural coagulants as impending alternatives towards sustainable water clarification—A comparative studies of natural coagulants with alum, J. Water Process Eng. 32,100982. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2019.100982.

N.T. Hoa, C.T, Hue’s (2018)Enhanced water treatment by Moringa oleifera seeds extract as the bio-coagulant: role of the extraction method, Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology—Aqua 67(7), 634-647. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2018.070.