Evaluation of the Opuntia dillenii as Natural Coagulant in Water Clarification: Case of Treatment of Highly Turbid Surface Water

Yéwêgnon Alima Esther Irma Nougbodé, Cokou Pascal Agbangnan, Alain Yaya Koudoro, Comlan Achille Dèdjiho, Martin Pépin Aïna, Daouda Mama, Dominique Codjo Koko Sohounhloué

1Laboratoire d’Hydrologie Appliquée (LHA), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, République du Bénin 2Laboratoire d’Etude et de Recherche en Chimie Appliquée (LERCA), Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey Calavi (EPAC), Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, République du Bénin.
Laboratoire d’Etude et de Recherche en Chimie Appliquée (LERCA), Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey Calavi (EPAC), Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, République du Bénin.
Laboratoire d’Hydrologie Appliquée (LHA), Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université d’Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, République du Bénin.

DOI: 10.4236/jwarp.2013.512133                

Abstract

This study was performed in laboratory scale and consisted of the using of aqueous Opuntia dillenii solution for the clarification of very turbid surface water (Turbidities varying between 186 NTU and 418 NTU). This plant from Cactaceae family was used as a natural coagulant for the different clarification tests. The preliminary phytochemical Screening of the powder of this plant showed that it contains tanins, saponins and mucilages. Flocculation and coagulation tests showed that Opuntia dillenii can be used in highly turbid water treatment. The removal efficiency varied from 89% to 93% for the turbidity and suspended solids, and from 4% to 15% for the obvious color in water when we used the optimum values of this natural coagulant (1 mL to 10 mL). The successive addition of this natural coagulant and the lime, gave a better elimination of turbidity and suspended solids, and a good reduction for the color. The removal efficiency of the turbidity and suspended solids became more than 95% and the one of the color between 67% and 94%.

Keywords

Natural Coagulant; Opuntia dillenii; Lime; Phytochemical Screening; Turbidity; Suspended Solids

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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