Performance Evaluation of Moringa oleifera Seed Extract (MOSE) in Conjunction with Chemical Coagulants for Treating Distillery Spent Wash

Abstract

This study focuses on coagulation–flocculation method of degradation of pollutants from the distillery spent wash. The optimisation of major operating parameter, that is the coagulant dosage for the degradation of distillery effluent in terms of colour, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and residual turbidity removal, was studied. In addition to conventional coagulants namely aluminium sulphate, ferric sulphate and calcium sulphate, a novel initiative of using Moringa oleifera seed extract (MOSE) as a coagulant aid to enhance the degradation efficiency was investigated. The objective of this study aims at the utilisation of plant-based organic coagulant resources, hence minimising the dosage of inorganic chemical coagulants. The effectiveness of the optimised dosage of chemical coagulants with and without the addition of MOSE was assessed in terms of percentage colour, COD and turbidity removal. The results showed that, in addition to conventional chemical coagulants, M. oleifera seed extract (MOSE) potentially aided the coagulation process, thereby enhancing the degradation of colour, COD and turbidity of spent wash. At optimised dosages of ferric sulphate and MOSE, 97% colour removal was attained, followed by aluminium sulphate with 96.5% and calcium sulphate with 29.3%. The treatment efficiencies were lower when the effluent was treated with chemical coagulants alone.