Optimizing Citrullus lanatus seed-based coagulation for enhanced phosphate and nitrate removal from agricultural wastewater

This present study explores a wastewater treatment process through an alum-watermelon seed coagulant that can help alleviate the Gibe River nutrient impact, which has been adversely affected by agricultural runoff. Various ratios of alum to watermelon seed powder were tested, i.e., 1:3, 3:1, and 1:1...

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Main Authors: Yared Endale, Abreham Bekele Bayu, Zerihun Asmelash Samuel, Seifu Kebede, Eliza Kulbat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific African
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227625001565
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author Yared Endale
Abreham Bekele Bayu
Zerihun Asmelash Samuel
Seifu Kebede
Eliza Kulbat
author_facet Yared Endale
Abreham Bekele Bayu
Zerihun Asmelash Samuel
Seifu Kebede
Eliza Kulbat
author_sort Yared Endale
collection DOAJ
description This present study explores a wastewater treatment process through an alum-watermelon seed coagulant that can help alleviate the Gibe River nutrient impact, which has been adversely affected by agricultural runoff. Various ratios of alum to watermelon seed powder were tested, i.e., 1:3, 3:1, and 1:1. The results indicated that 1:3 was the best ratio and had efficiencies of removal 98.28 % for phosphate, 98.92 % for nitrate, 98.27 % for total dissolved solids, 96.11 % for biochemical oxygen demand, and 95.29 % for chemical oxygen demand. Maximum efficiencies were found at pH 3, 0.4 g/L dosage, 15 minutes contact time, and 40 minutes settling time. The results show that the watermelon seed coagulant blended with commercial alum at a ratio of 1:3 is the ideal blend for wastewater treatment of the highly contaminated Gibe River. The treatment not only improves the removal of the major pollutants but is also an eco-friendly and low-cost wastewater treatment process.
format Article
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issn 2468-2276
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Scientific African
spelling doaj-art-f1f61021663a439cbd2e25db5b2af78e2025-08-20T03:10:30ZengElsevierScientific African2468-22762025-06-0128e0268610.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02686Optimizing Citrullus lanatus seed-based coagulation for enhanced phosphate and nitrate removal from agricultural wastewaterYared Endale0Abreham Bekele Bayu1Zerihun Asmelash Samuel2Seifu Kebede3Eliza Kulbat4Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Bosa Addis , 378, Jimma, EthiopiaSchool of Chemical Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Bosa Addis B-5403, 378, Jimma, Ethiopia; Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland; Corresponding author.Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Bosa Addis , 378, Jimma, EthiopiaFaculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Jimma Institute of Technology, Jimma University, Bosa Addis , 378, Jimma, EthiopiaFaculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Gdansk University of Technology, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, PolandThis present study explores a wastewater treatment process through an alum-watermelon seed coagulant that can help alleviate the Gibe River nutrient impact, which has been adversely affected by agricultural runoff. Various ratios of alum to watermelon seed powder were tested, i.e., 1:3, 3:1, and 1:1. The results indicated that 1:3 was the best ratio and had efficiencies of removal 98.28 % for phosphate, 98.92 % for nitrate, 98.27 % for total dissolved solids, 96.11 % for biochemical oxygen demand, and 95.29 % for chemical oxygen demand. Maximum efficiencies were found at pH 3, 0.4 g/L dosage, 15 minutes contact time, and 40 minutes settling time. The results show that the watermelon seed coagulant blended with commercial alum at a ratio of 1:3 is the ideal blend for wastewater treatment of the highly contaminated Gibe River. The treatment not only improves the removal of the major pollutants but is also an eco-friendly and low-cost wastewater treatment process.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227625001565PhosphateNitrateNatural coagulantsSynthetic coagulantResource recoveryOptimization
spellingShingle Yared Endale
Abreham Bekele Bayu
Zerihun Asmelash Samuel
Seifu Kebede
Eliza Kulbat
Optimizing Citrullus lanatus seed-based coagulation for enhanced phosphate and nitrate removal from agricultural wastewater
Scientific African
Phosphate
Nitrate
Natural coagulants
Synthetic coagulant
Resource recovery
Optimization
title Optimizing Citrullus lanatus seed-based coagulation for enhanced phosphate and nitrate removal from agricultural wastewater
title_full Optimizing Citrullus lanatus seed-based coagulation for enhanced phosphate and nitrate removal from agricultural wastewater
title_fullStr Optimizing Citrullus lanatus seed-based coagulation for enhanced phosphate and nitrate removal from agricultural wastewater
title_full_unstemmed Optimizing Citrullus lanatus seed-based coagulation for enhanced phosphate and nitrate removal from agricultural wastewater
title_short Optimizing Citrullus lanatus seed-based coagulation for enhanced phosphate and nitrate removal from agricultural wastewater
title_sort optimizing citrullus lanatus seed based coagulation for enhanced phosphate and nitrate removal from agricultural wastewater
topic Phosphate
Nitrate
Natural coagulants
Synthetic coagulant
Resource recovery
Optimization
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227625001565
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