Clarification of superficial waters of the magdalena river using seeds of Tamarindus indica as bio-coagulants

Abstract

Biocoagulants have emerged as an environmentally friendly and efficient alternative to surface water clarification, allowing the use of agro-industrial waste as a bioavailable source for the treatment of high turbidity water. The objective of this research was to compare the efficiency in the surface water coagulation process of the Magdalena river using aluminum sulfate and tamarind seeds (Tamarindus indica) dissolved in aqueous solution and saline solution. The clarification process was carried out by testing jar, for this was performed an extraction of the hot and cold tamarind coagulant which were evaluated in conjunction with an inorganic coagulant in different mother dilutions (distilled water and saline) at concentrations of 35 and 40 mg/L and at a stirring speed of 100 and 200 rpm. The parameters of pH, electrical conductivity (S/cm), turbidity (NTU) and color (UPC) were measured during the clarification process. The results show a 97.2% reduction in inorganic treatment (SAL) compared to initial turbidity and a decrease in natural cold extracted (STF) and hot (STC) treatments of 58.2% and 39.1% respectively, when diluted in aqueous solution. While diluting in saline solution there was a greater removal of turbidity when applying aluminum sulfate, followed by STF and STC treatment, with removal values of 99%, 75% and 53% respectively. The highest coagulating activity occurred when applying a dose of 40mg/L and when diluting treatments in NaCl with maximum reported values for SAL, STF and STC treatment of 93%, 85% and 59%. Tamarind seeds proved to be an efficient coagulant for water clarification