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Modeling and optimization of the coagulation/flocculation process in turbidity removal from water using poly aluminum chloride and rice starch as a natural coagulant aid

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Abstract

The application of the coagulation/flocculation process is very important due to its simplicity in removing turbidity. Due to the disadvantages of using chemical coagulants in water and the lack of sufficient effect of natural materials alone in removing turbidity for proper performance, the simultaneous use of chemical and natural coagulants is the best way to reduce the harmful effects of chemical coagulants in water. In this study, the application of poly aluminum chloride (PAC) as a chemical coagulant and rice starch as a natural coagulant aid to remove turbidity from aqueous solutions was investigated. Effects of the above coagulants on the four main factors, coagulant dose (0–10 mg/L), coagulant adjuvant dose (0–0.1 mg/L), pH (5–9), turbidity (NTU 0–50), and each five levels were assessed using a central composite design (CCD). Under the optimized conditions, the maximum turbidity elimination efficiency was found to be 96.6%. The validity and adequacy of the proposed model (quadratic model) were confirmed by the corresponding statistics (i.e., F-value of 23.3, p-values of 0.0001, and lack of fit of 0.877 for the model, respectively, R2 = 0.88, R2adj. = 0.84, R2 pred = 0.79, AP = 22.04).

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All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published article.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

AP:

Adequate precision

CCD:

Central composite design

LOF:

Lack of fit

NTU:

Nephelometric turbidity unit

PAC:

Poly aluminum chloride

pH:

Potential of hydrogen

RSM:

Response surface method

R 2 :

Regression coefficients

R 2 adj :

Regression adjusted coefficient

R 2 pred :

Regression predicted coefficient

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Qom University of Medical Sciences for supporting the current study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health, Research Center for Environmental Pollutants, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

    Mahdi Asadi-Ghalhari & Fatemeh sadat Tabatabaei

  2. Student Research Committee, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

    Saideh Usefi

  3. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Alborz, Iran

    Nassim Ghafouri

  4. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Amin Kishipour

  5. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

    Roqiyeh Mostafaloo

Authors
  1. Mahdi Asadi-Ghalhari
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  2. Saideh Usefi
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  3. Nassim Ghafouri
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  4. Amin Kishipour
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  5. Roqiyeh Mostafaloo
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  6. Fatemeh sadat Tabatabaei
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study’s conception and design. Material preparation, data collection in the field, and lab analysis were performed by Mahdi Asadi-Ghalhari, Nassim Ghafouri, Saideh Usefi, Roqiyeh Mostafaloo, and Fatemeh sadat Tabatabaei. Statistical analysis was performed by Mahdi Asadi-Ghalhari, Roqiyeh Mostafaloo, and Nassim Ghafouri. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Saideh Usefi and Amin Kishipour. All authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Mahdi Asadi-Ghalhari.

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Highlights

• Turbidity was successfully removed from aquatic solutions using the pPoly aAluminum- cChloride (PAC) as a chemical coagulant and rice starch as a natural coagulant aid.

• The removal efficiency predicted by the model was found to be 96.6 %.

• The validity and adequacy of the proposed model (quadratic model) were confirmed by the corresponding statistics.

• The use of coagulant aid along with chemical coagulants reduces the amount of coagulant consumption and consequently saves money.

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Asadi-Ghalhari, M., Usefi, S., Ghafouri, N. et al. Modeling and optimization of the coagulation/flocculation process in turbidity removal from water using poly aluminum chloride and rice starch as a natural coagulant aid. Environ Monit Assess 195, 527 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-11150-8

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