Finding an eco-friendly and effective flocculation method to remove algal blooms from water

Abstract

Algal blooms are rapid growth of microscopic algae in the water that are harmful to the environment because they block sunlight from reaching plants under the surface, deplete the water of useful nutrients, and release carbon emissions. Flocculation is a method that is used to remove algae and it works by binding and agglomerating suspended particles in water to form large particles to assist in their settling. However, most flocculants are chemical flocculants and may harm water quality. Bio-flocculation based on natural flocculants has been studied in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) as an eco-friendly alternative technology to conventional flocculants for both turbidity and HABs removal. The total solids assay, sedimentation kinetics assay, and pH testing will be used to measure the effectiveness of flocculants and water quality. These assays were tested with three types of algae: Chlorella vulgaris, Spirulina, Scenedesmus obliquus, and five types of flocculants: Aluminium Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Chitosan, Moringa oleifera, and Strychnos potatorum Linn. The data collected so far in the study show that the chemical flocculants and bio-flocculants have a similar effectivity at flocculating algae from the water. The findings suggest that there is no significant difference between the bio-flocculants and the chemical flocculant. and that all of the flocculants will be effective. pH testing results have shown that Chitosan, Moringa oleifera, and Strychnos potatorum Linn affect the water quality the least which makes them the more environmentally friendly flocculants.