THE OPTIMIZATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF GRANULATED GROUNDNUT AS A COAGULANT FOR WATER TREATMENT
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Abstract
This study investigated the optimization of granulated groundnuts (Arachis hypogaea) as a natural coagulant for water treatment, compared with the conventional chemical coagulant, alum. The research was motivated by the increasing need for sustainable and eco-friendly water treatment methods, as chemical coagulants such as alum have been associated with high residual ion concentrations and potential health concerns. The study aimed to determine the optimal operational conditions—coagulant dosage, stirring speed, and flocculation time—that yield the best water quality in terms of turbidity, pH, conductivity, and total dissolved solids (TDS). Response Surface Methodology (RSM) using Design-Expert software was employed to model and optimize the coagulation process based on experimental data from jar tests.
For the granulated groundnut coagulant, optimal conditions were achieved at a stirring speed of 400 rpm, stirring time of 2.37 minutes, and dosage of 1.00 mg/L, resulting in predicted responses of pH 6.61, conductivity 221.98 µS/cm, TDS 121.30 mg/L, and turbidity 7.86 NTU. In comparison, alum showed its best performance at a stirring speed of 400 rpm, stirring time of 7.06 minutes, and dosage of 2.96 mg/L, yielding a pH of 6.50, conductivity of 1392.24 µS/cm, TDS of 825.65 mg/L, and turbidity of 4.93 NTU. While alum produced slightly lower turbidity, it significantly increased conductivity and TDS, indicating higher residual salts and poorer overall water quality compared to granulated groundnut.
The findings demonstrate that granulated groundnut is an effective, biodegradable, and low-cost alternative to alum, providing satisfactory turbidity reduction, excellent ionic quality, and near-neutral pH at lower dosages and shorter flocculation times. The study concludes that groundnut-based coagulants can serve as a sustainable option for small-scale and rural water purification systems and recommends further research on microbial removal efficiency and large-scale application to enhance practical adoption in eco-friendly water treatment.
For the granulated groundnut coagulant, optimal conditions were achieved at a stirring speed of 400 rpm, stirring time of 2.37 minutes, and dosage of 1.00 mg/L, resulting in predicted responses of pH 6.61, conductivity 221.98 µS/cm, TDS 121.30 mg/L, and turbidity 7.86 NTU. In comparison, alum showed its best performance at a stirring speed of 400 rpm, stirring time of 7.06 minutes, and dosage of 2.96 mg/L, yielding a pH of 6.50, conductivity of 1392.24 µS/cm, TDS of 825.65 mg/L, and turbidity of 4.93 NTU. While alum produced slightly lower turbidity, it significantly increased conductivity and TDS, indicating higher residual salts and poorer overall water quality compared to granulated groundnut.
The findings demonstrate that granulated groundnut is an effective, biodegradable, and low-cost alternative to alum, providing satisfactory turbidity reduction, excellent ionic quality, and near-neutral pH at lower dosages and shorter flocculation times. The study concludes that groundnut-based coagulants can serve as a sustainable option for small-scale and rural water purification systems and recommends further research on microbial removal efficiency and large-scale application to enhance practical adoption in eco-friendly water treatment.
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