This review investigates the modification, optimisation, and characterisation of plant-based natural coagulants applied to water treatment. The disadvantages of plant-based materials hinder their application as alternatives to chemical coagulants, necessitating their modification to alter and enhance their physicochemical properties, making them suitable for application. Modification via microwave-assisted grafting copolymerisation has been found to be the most preferred approach compared to conventional methods. Optimisation of the coagulation process using response surface methodology has been shown to be practical. Different techniques are used in determining the physicochemical properties of plant-based natural coagulants. Some of these techniques have been tabulated, describing the properties each technique is capable of investigating. In conclusion, modification and optimisation of plant-based natural coagulants will result in the production of new materials that are stable and suitable for application as coagulants in water treatment.
This study investigated the efficiency of LENFLOC™ production using a microwave-assisted continuous-flow grafting process. The study discussed the contribution of plant-based coagulants for water and wastewater treatment toward the circular economy in water treatment. Lentil waste extract was used to produce LENFLOC™ using (2-methacryloyloxyethyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride with 75 wt.% on H2O as a chain monomer and cerium ammonium nitrate (≥98%) as an initiator. The continuous flow grafting process was conducted at a constant flowrate of 60 mL/min and reaction time of 30 s. The process was optimised using RSM to obtain optimum conditions of process factors. Characterisation studies were conducted using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray. A comparison study was performed using a Jar test with LENFLOC™, lentil waste extract, and a polymer as coagulants. The results obtained show that the continuous-flow grafting process was efficient with an optimum grafting percentage of 330%. The characterisation studies confirmed the grafting process. A 99% turbidity removal rate was achieved with LENFLOC™ as a coagulant with a lower dosage compared to the lentil waste extract. Furthermore, microscope imaging showed improved floc compaction when using LENFLOC™ as a coagulant. The continuous-flow grafting process has been shown to be effective; therefore, its potential for upscaling the process is possible.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.