Application of Cactus Cladodes Mucilage (Opuntia ficus-indica) as an Eco-Friendly Natural Coagulant and Flocculent Aid with Alum for Potable Water Treatment

Turbid water has a significant harmful effect on water pollution which is included suspended solids and colloidal materials such as clay, silt and its contents of organic, inorganic materials and microorganism. Sedimentation method by coagulants is the best and least expensive process comparison to other methods, it is recommended for primary water treatment. Inorganic compounds such as aluminum sulfate (alum) are widely used as a coagulant, but it has caused many problems for humans health. Therefore many studies attempt to find eco-friendly natural coagulant as an alternative of chemical material for water treatment. This study comprised using cactus mucilage extract as a mainly coagulant as well as used a coagulant aid with alum by jar test apparatus to treat three levels of turbid water 53, 100 and200 NTU at pH ranging between 410, varoius temperatures and several intervals of settle were examined in study. Results indicated that the optimum dosages of natural coagulant were 5, 10 and30 ppm at pH 7 and the best period of sedimentation was 2 and 5 hours with significant turbidity removal 79.3 %, 78.7 %, 82 % and 84.7 %, 86.6 %, 87.9 % for two time and three levels of turbid water respectively, while there is non-significant difference between various temperatures in treatment. This study shows integrated natural coagulant with alum obtained maximum turbidity removal at ratio (0.50.5) (coagulant aid alum) that were 74.1 %, 84.7 % and 89.8 % for three levels of turbid water respectively.