Coagulation/Flocculation of Slaughterhouse Wastewater Using Cottonseed as Coagulant

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of a natural product (cottonseed) when used as a coagulant agent in the turbidity removal from a swine slaughterhouse wastewater. The cottonseed was used as a coagulant in three preparation ways, in aqueous solution using distilled water, saline solution (NaCl - 1M) and in a solid phase. The aqueous solutions were prepared at the time of the test. Coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation tests were performed to evaluate the wastewater coagulant effect using Jar-test device, evaluating the dosages effects of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 1500, 2500 and 5000 mg L-1 cottonseed solution (aqueous and saline) and 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000 and 1500 mg L-1 of solid phase cottonseed. According to the results obtained, the turbidity removals were observed when using saline solution (41.1%) with a great dosage of 1000 mg L-1 and mainly when using solid phase cottonseed (43.5%) with a great dosage of 100 mg L-1, since there is a larger contact surface, which may be considered a potential coagulant in the treatment of agro-industrial wastewater.