A sustainable and environmentally friendly approach for wastewater treatment using natural flocculants: pH effect and optimization

Coagulation and flocculation is one of the most important solid-liquid separation processesthat is used in wastewater treatment. In this study, performance of Pistacia terebinthus,as an eco-friendly coagulant for wastewater treatment was evaluated. To do this,different dosages of Pistacia terebinthus (۰.۵, ۱, ۱.۵, and ۲ g/L) was applied towastewater samples to remove chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity.Additionally, the effect of various initial pH (۳, ۵, ۷, ۹, ۱۱) on the flucculantperformance and settling time was investigated. Moreover, zeta potential analysis wasconducted to find the main mechanism of treatment. The results showed that in theoptimal condition of NF dosage= ۲ g/L and pH=۱۱after ۶۰ minutes of settling time,maximum removal efficiencies of ۹۵% and ۹۸% was obtained for COD and turbidity,respectively. Moreover, it can be concluded that the main mechanism of the Pistaciaterebinthus as natural flocculant with pH adjustment is bridging combined with chargeneutralization.

کلیدواژه ها:

Wastewater ، Flocculation ، Pistacia terebinthus ، pH adjustment