Optimization of the flocculating capacity of natural coagulants in water treatment

Abstract

The objective was optimize the flocculating capacity of three varities of cacti Echinopsis pachanoi (San Pedro), Neoraimondia arequipenses (Ulluquite) and Opuntia ficus (Tuna) in the artificial wastewater treatment. They were applied 1%, 2% and 3% coagulant doses of the three varieties of cactaceae extracted with 96% ethanol. It was evaluated the flocculating activity (FA) and removal percentage (%R); a significant increase was observed (p-value < 0.05) with the increase in the coagulant dose. The optimization was carried out considering as objective function the %R which were subjected to FA, pH, hardness, alkalinity and BOD5 of water treatment. Which were reported values of 99.09 %R for San Pedro variety, 92.42 %R for Ulluquite variety and 98.98 %R for tuna variety, for doses of 0.207%, 0.246% and 0.754% of coagulant respectively.