Removal of Phosphorous in Waste Water using Natural Coagulants

Abstract

This study aims to explore the feasibility of employing natural coagulants like Cassia alata, Calotropis procera, Hyacinth bean, Banana leaves, Carica Papaya, Acacia mearnsii, Jatropha curcas cactus, tamarind seeds, and watermelon seeds for reducing the content of red phosphorus in industrial wastewater. A series of batch coagulation tests were performed to determine the optimal dosage of coagulants for the purpose of eliminating red phosphorus from the wastewater. The efficacy of each chosen coagulant in removing red phosphorus was depicted graphically. Among the various coagulants evaluated, Hyacinth bean exhibited the highest efficacy in reducing red phosphorus content (75%), surpassing the performance of casuarina leaves and banana leaves. On the other hand, tamarind seeds demonstrated the least effective removal of red phosphorus from the wastewater, achieving a removal rate of 56%. Notably, Hyacinth bean stands out as a potential coagulant for effective removal of red phosphorus, offering promising results akin to its capability in aiding blood clot clearance. By maintaining a pH level of 8 and employing a coagulant dosage of 20 ml, alongside initial and final red phosphorus concentrations of 4372.5 mg/lit and 1072.5 mg/lit respectively, with mixing and settling times of 30 and 45 minutes, the study achieved a significant percentage of red phosphorus removal efficiency.