Abstracto

Novel natural coagulants for water clarification

K.Anuradha, Prakritiranjan Bangal, S.Sakunthala Madhavendra

The aim of the present study was to develop new flocculating agents in the form of beads and to check their capability for water clarification. To this end mucilage was isolated fromthree different plant species i.e., Portulaca oleracea L. (aerial parts), Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. (leaves), Aloe barbadensisMiller (leaves).Mucilage-sodiumalginate beadswere prepared by entrapment method. Jar test experiments were conducted separately with 6-60mg/Ldose range ofmucilage powder and 150-1500mg/Ldose range of beads that contained 6-60mg/l of entrappedmucilage usingwater samples with turbidity 35 and 450 (NTU). Beads were used for 3 repeated cycles to check the effectiveness in turbidity removal. Portulaca and Aloe beads were found to be more effective in water clarification when compared with that of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.