Assessing plant-based coagulant performance to improve the safety and quality of water

Abstract

The proposed work was carried out to replace the conventional water purification methods by natural coagulants. Samples of groundwater were obtained and analyzed for quality parameters. The coagulants of Moringa oleifera, orange peels, and date pits were prepared, and different combinations of these coagulants were used to find out the most effective one. Results regarding various physicochemical tests including pH, electrical conductivity, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), calcium, magnesium, total hardness, bicarbonates, chlorides and heavy metals revealed that pH was not affected by treatments, values for EC were dropped down slightly but not reduced to an acceptable limit of World Health Organization (WHO). TDS, total hardness and chlorides reduced to the acceptable limit of WHO. Additionally, a significant reduction was recorded in lead and arsenic contents of treated water samples. Moreover, the results exhibited that the values for TPC and Total Coliform were dropped down slightly but not reduced to a satisfactory limit of WHO, while fecal Coliform reduced to the acceptable limit of WHO and E.coli was found to be zero in all samples. Conclusively, natural coagulants contain good adsorbent properties, which can confer the purification of water in a cost-effective way.