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Removal of Turbidity from the River Water Using Tamarindus Indica and Litchi Chinensis Seeds as Natural Coagulant

M. Mostafizur Rahman
Department of Invironmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh and Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan

Protima Sarker
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh

Badhan Saha
Scientific Officer, Soil, Agronomy and Environment Section, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) Laboratories, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Nusrat Jakarin
Department of Invironmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh

Mashura Shammi
Department of Invironmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh and Department of Environmental Pollution and Process Control Xinjiang, Institute of Ecology and Geography Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi-830011, Xinjiang, PR China

M. Khabir Uddin
Department of Invironmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh

Md. Tajuddin Sikder
Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The present study was conducted to assess the efficacy of powder extracted from mature-dried Tamarindus indica and Litchi chinensis seeds for the turbidity reduction of polluted river water. Efficiency of Tamarindus indica and Litchi chinensis in removal of turbidity was compared with a synthetic coagulant Polyaluminiumchloride(PAC). The jar test experiment was performed to treat sample water using seed extracts along with PAC in laboratory condition. Polyacrylamide (PAM) was used as a model coagulant to aid the coagulation process. Water samples were analyzed before and after treatment with target coagulants. Tamarindus indica achieved maximum 91.16% turbidity reduction aided with0.5% PAM. Likewise, Litchi chinensis showed 91.82% turbidity reduction aided with 0.2% PAM, whereas PAC showed maximum 96.20% turbidity reduction aided with 0.5% PAM. The overall results revealed that both of the seed extract has impressive coagulation capacity in compare to the PAC. After treatment with natural seed extracts there was no significant changes in the other water quality parameters; pH, TDS, EC and COD. It can be stated that the present study will be a pathway to examine the kinetics of coagulation and mechanism of reactions by using natural seed extracts as coagulant.

Keywords: Seed Extract, Water Treatment, TDS, COD, PAC, PAM

Location: The Bangshi River, located near the Dhaka city, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Commodity: Water management, Water quality

Objectives:

To compare the efficacy of seed extracts of Tamarindus indica and Litchi chinensis to that of the poly aluminium chloride (PAC), regarding both treatment efficiency and influence on water quality and to optimize the usage of coagulant aid to reduce the cost and residual effect of synthetic chemicals.

Methodology:

Preparation of Sample Water: The sample water used throughout the study was collected from the Bangshi River, located near Dhaka city. Water was collected during the winter season. The raw water was stored in the plastic bottle in the laboratory of Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Bangladesh. Stock Solution of Poly-Aluminium Chloride (PAC): Poly-aluminium chloride (PAC) was used in this study was supplied by the Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka. 1% solution of PAC (1g of PAC in 100ml water) in deionized water was prepared. Then the desired concentrations were used for the experiment. Stock Solution of Poly Acrylamide (PAM): Poly-acrylamide (PAM) was supplied by the Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka. Three different percentages of stock solution of PAM were prepared (0.2%, 0.5% and 1.0%) for the study. Preparation of Seed Powder: Locally available dry Tamarindus indica seeds were obtained from the local market of Mohammadpur, Dhaka. And Litchi chinensis seeds were also collected from the local market during summer season. The seeds were dried in sunlight and kept in room temperature. Then the seeds were oven-dried and grounded to fine powder using a mortar and then a kitchen blender to make it of the approximate size of 0.005mm to make soluble in water of active ingredients of the seeds. Then the powder was stored in the BCSIR laboratory for use in the experiment. Preparation of the Seed Extract: Dried seed powder from Tamarindus indica and Litchi chinensis was used to prepare the seed extract. 1.0g of powder was added to 100ml of de-ionized water and then stirred for 15min using a magnetic stirrer. Then the solution was allowed to stand without disturbance for 15min for settling. After that seed extract was separated into another beaker. Fresh solutions were prepared daily to avoid the aging effect. Jar Test Operations: The experiment was carried out in the laboratory of the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR). The treatment was performed with varying concentrations of Tamarindus indica and Litchi chinensis seed powder. Each treatment was conducted on the response of turbidity, pH, electric conductivity, total dissolved solids and COD. First the samples were analyzed to measure turbidity, along with other parameters. The experiment was carried out in a jar test operations. The jar test was used to determine turbidity for each coagulant used with sample water. In conventional filtration water treatment plants, the jar test was most commonly used to optimize the removal of turbidity from the treated water. It was carried out as a batch test. Before operating the jar test the samples were mixed homogenously. Then the dry seed powder was measured by digital balance. Coagulants of desired concentrations were added in the beakers. The whole procedures in the jar test were conducted in different rotating speed. For reproducibility, the study was triplicate and represented as average. Add 3 drops of coagulant aid (PAM) in the beaker. Then the beakers were agitated at various mixing time and speed, which consist of rapid mixing for 15 min and slow mixing for 12-15 min using a magnetic stirrer for mixing the sample with a coagulant. The flocculated suspensions were allowed to stand without disturbance for 30min to be settled. Finally, sample was taken using a pipette from the middle of the supernatant for turbidity, pH, TDS, EC and COD measurements. So, the coagulation-flocculation process consists of three distinct steps. First, the coagulant was added to the raw water and a rapid high-intensity mixing was initiated. Second, the suspension was slowly stirred to increase contact between coagulating particles and to facilitate the development of large flocks. Third, mixing was terminated and the flocks were allowed to precipitate. Water Quality Analysis: The desired water quality parameters pH, turbidity, EC, TDS and COD were measured by using the instruments and technique followed by our previous work.

Source of Information: Advances in Environmental Researches. Vol. 3, No. 2-1, 2015, pp. 19-26.

Article Link (Online Journal): doi: 10.11648/j.ijepp.s.2015030201.14

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The results obtained from the treatment with Tamarindus indica and Litchi chinensis were impressive and comparable with a synthetic commercial coagulant. The findings of the present study confirmed that the seed of Tamarindus indica and Litchi chinensis contains coagulating potentials of removing turbidity as like conventional coagulants. Their turbidity removal capacity was significantly similar to PAC, a renowned chemical coagulant. Since usages of 0.2% PAM showed better removal efficiency than 1.0% PAM usage, it should be optimized during usage which could lead to reducing the cost of the chemicals and their consequences on the environment. Tamarindus indica and Litchi chinensis were not significantly effective to reduce TDS and EC, though pH was increased from the initial value after coagulation. The COD content of the sample was significantly reduced after coagulation with natural coagulants. Tamarindus indica and Litchi chinensis seeds were collected locally at a low cost. The extractions of seeds were performed by tap water as this seems to be a cheaper, most practical and more efficient method than the conventional synthetic chemicals. The natural coagulant is biodegradable, environmentally friendly and non-toxic. A further advantage was that the produced sludge is biodegradable because it contains organic matter. It can be reused as a fertilizer. So, it can be concluded that Tamarindus indica and Litchi chinensis have coagulating properties which, can be used as an alternative to the chemical coagulant in the treatment of turbidity of surface water.

Knowledge Management: Journal