Evaluation of Aloe arborescens as a coagulant for color and turbidity removal in conventional water treatment

Abstract

The use of natural coagulants in water treatment is an alternative to synthetic that can cause toxicity. This research evaluated the viability of utilizing Aloe arborescens as a coagulant for the removal of color and turbidity in conventional water treatment. The assays were performed in a jar test with water from the São Tomás River, State of Goiás, Brazil, which covers a pH range of 6.0 to 8.0, with coagulant concentrations of 0.025 to 10.0 mL L-1. The authors elaborated coagulation diagrams with the efficiencies obtained from each of the 72 pH values versus the coagulant doses and obtained a 36% reduction in turbidity and 52% reduction in apparent color with the decanted water and a 68% reduction in turbidity and 70% reduction in apparent color with the filtered water. The efficiencies for the parameters analyzed were not sufficient to meet the requirements of the Brazilian Potability Standard.

Keywords

• aloe arborescens
• coagulante natural
• diagramas de coagulação
• tratamento de água