Augmentation of the coagulation activity of alum using a porous bio-flocculant for the remediation of trihalomethanes-generating hydrophobic natural organic matter

Abstract

Conventional coagulation techniques have shown inefficacy for the removal of DBPs precursor i.e. hydrophobic NOM. The present study has used a bio-flocculant named Ficus benghalensis to enhance the coagulation activity of alum for the removal of hydrophobic NOM. The coagulation activity of the augmented treatment (Alum-F. benghalensis) system was validated using spectroscopic analysis. The augmented system had shown an increment in DOC and A254 removal by ~30% and ~16%, respectively. ASI and A272 had shown a continual decrease (from 0.12 to 0.08 and 0.46 to 0.23, respectively) for the augmented system. Chlorine demand was found lesser for the augmented system (1.4 mg/L) compared to alum (1.55 mg/L) only. The augmented system had shown a drastic reduction (from 0.1459 to 0.0638) in the value of (-∆A272), which is directly related to the reduction in THMFP. The combined effects of sweep coagulation and charge neutralization were the responsible mechanisms for the augmented coagulation system. The noteworthy anti-bacterial activity of F. benghalensis was observed due to the presence of silver, copper, and traces of chlorine in its structure. Thus, the proposed augmented coagulation system can be used to remove the hydrophobic NOM from the water.

Reduction of Malnutrition Related to Unsafe Water Consumption in Developing Countries: Potabilization of Surface Water and Traditional Well Water, with Plant Extracts

“…This is due to the fact that the storage time was long, and the organic matter from the various bioextracts and which was found in the water will thus serve for the proliferation of those bacteria having escaped treatment. To this effect, Gupta et al (2021) [65] showed in their study that treatment with Moringa seeds induces an increase in the concentration of organic matter in treated water, and they explained this is due to the high level of organic matter in this coagulant. Shan et al (2017) [66], also showed, in the same direction that Moringa oleifera seeds contain almost 94% organic matter and that the organic matter leads to an increase in the organic matter level in the treated water.…”