TITLE:
Coag-Flocculation Studies of Afzelia Bella Coagulant (ABC) in Coal Effluent Using Single and Simulated Multi Angle Nephelometry
AUTHORS:
M.C. Menkiti, O.D. Onukwuli
KEYWORDS:
Afzelia bella; coag-flocculation; coal effluent; kinetics; nephelometry.
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.10 No.3,
March
5,
2011
ABSTRACT: Following the need for the use of environmentally friendly, renewable resource in industrial
processes, this work explores the potential of an effective application in pilot scale of Afzelia
bella seed as a coag-flocculant. The study evaluates the coag-flocculation efficiency and
functional kinetic parameter response to varying pH and dosage of coal washery effluent and
ABC respectively. The maximum coag-flocculation performance is recorded at rate constant,
K of 3.3333 x 10-3m3/kg.s, dosage of (0.3 and 0.2kg/m3); pH of 2 and coagulation period, τ1/2of 28.1216 s while the minimum is recorded at K of 1.6667 x 10-4m3/kg.s, dosage of 0.2kg/m3,
pH of 10 and τ1/2 of 562.365 s. The least value of coag-flocculation efficiency, E (%)>89.00. Simulated and unsimulated values of rate constants Ks and K respectively are in close
agreement, validating the concept of perikinetics. The potential of ABC as an effective
organic coag-flocculant has been established. The results confirm that theory of rapid coagflocculation holds for the aggregation of coal washery effluent using ABC and at the
conditions of the experiment.