Removal of Suspended Particles from Water Sources Using Natural Coagulants: Leucaena Leucocephala
Coagulation/flocculation is the process of destabilization of colloidal particles, forming flocs that precipitate. Although chemical coagulants such as aluminum sulfate are effective, they have long-term negative effects on health and the environment. For this reason, natural alternatives are sought...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
AIDIC Servizi S.r.l.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Chemical Engineering Transactions |
| Online Access: | https://www.cetjournal.it/index.php/cet/article/view/15450 |
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| Summary: | Coagulation/flocculation is the process of destabilization of colloidal particles, forming flocs that precipitate. Although chemical coagulants such as aluminum sulfate are effective, they have long-term negative effects on health and the environment. For this reason, natural alternatives are sought for the removal of turbidity in waters for human consumption that are safe and low cost. This study evaluates the capacity of the Leucaena leucocephala (LL) plant from the Colombian Caribbean region as a natural coagulant compared to aluminum sulfate. The active coagulant compound was extracted from the LL seeds by drying, grinding and salt extraction. The optimum dose was 4.5 mL/L, prepared with 10 g of seeds at 4% NaCl, achieving an efficiency of 86% and 97.54% with oil extraction. A 1% solution of aluminium sulphate showed an efficiency of 99.05% with a lower dose (2.4 mL/L) and took longer to settle (5 min) compared to LL (3-4 min). Furthermore, the pH remained stable with LL, while aluminum sulfate lowered it to 5.04. It is concluded that LL is feasible for water clarification and is presented as a promising alternative. |
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| ISSN: | 2283-9216 |