Abstract
Abstract The aim of this research work is the optimization of the coagulation/flocculation process in the treatment of surface water for maximum dissolved organic matter (DOM) removal using response surface methodology (RSM). For this purpose, several jar test experiments were performed in order to identify the most influencing factors. Afterwards, RSM was done to investigate the effects and the interactions of three chosen variables (coagulant concentration, flocculant concentration, and initial pH), whereas the responses were the DOM removal in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), in terms of absorbance at the wavelength 254 nm (UV-254), and the final pH. The optimal conditions were as follows: 133 mg/L of coagulant, 60 mg/L of flocculant and an initial pH equal to 6.91. Under these conditions, the efficiency removals were 56% in terms of COD and 59% in terms of UV-254 with a final pH equal to 6.78. High variance coefficient R2 values, with 0.96 for the removal in terms of COD and 0.92 in terms of UV-254, confirm the reliability and the validity of the obtained model.
Highlights
Drinking water production in a scenario where the contamination of aquatic environments is increasing has become a subject of global interest (Feihrmann et al ; Khouni et al )
Regarding the fact that Timgad dam water contains a very low level of inorganic compounds (Tiri et al, ; Amrane & Bouhidel ), we suggested that Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) concentration was attributable essentially to the organic matter content
In order to study the physicochemical characteristics of real untreated Timgad dam water and to carry out the coagulation/flocculation treatment, a water sample was collected from the Timgad dam according to Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (APHA )
Summary
Drinking water production in a scenario where the contamination of aquatic environments is increasing has become a subject of global interest (Feihrmann et al ; Khouni et al ). The quality of natural waters has suffered serious deterioration, especially surface water (lakes, rivers, dams ...), and the main cause of this degradation is the excessive increase of dissolved organic matter, the emergence of new pollutants (trihalomethanes, pesticides ...), etc. Natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) is present in all natural waters (Liu et al ). It is a heterogeneous complex mixture of various organic compounds varying in molecular size, structure, and chemical composition (Dulaquais et al ; HincapiéUpegui et al ). It consists of various compounds including proteins, lipids, carboxylic acids, polysaccharides, amino acids, hydrocarbons and humic and fulvic substances (Wang et al ; Mostofa et al )
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