Comparative study of adsorption characteristics of coag-flocculation performances of bio-coagulants in mechanic village seeped water medium

Abstract

Comparative study of the adsorptive potentials of Moringa oleifera seed coagulant (MOSC) and Carica papaya leaf coagulant(CPLC) in the coag-flocculation treatment of Mechanic village seep water (MVSW) for both water portability and disposal purposes was undertaken. The coagulants were prepared accordingly and proximate compositions determined. Effluent was characterized according to AOAC (1990). Jar test procedure was used in coag-flocculation experiments and efficiencies of reactions calculated. Five adsorption isotherms were used to test the fitness of the experimental data. Results showed that turbidity, colour, total suspended solid (TSS), total dissolved solid (TDS), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solid (TS) and bio-oxygen demand (BOD) before treatment were above standards for both coagulants. After treatment, the values were within, with little exceptions. The fitness results showed remarkable differences for the various isotherms in both MOSC- and CPLC treated MVSW. Conclusively both coagulants were effective adsorbates but MOSC was more effective than CPLC. The MOSC-treated water met the portable water requirement by WHO in all the parameters except very slight differences in the values of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) while CPLC-treated did not in BOD, COD, TDS, Fe, Pb and Cd. For FEPA water disposal standard, both systems met the requirements in all the parameters except colour. MOSC and CPLC-treated waters can be reasonably applied for disposal purpose while MOSC-treated could be considered for portability.