Author(s)

Matthew Chukwud Menkiti, Chukwuka Ikechukwu Nwoye, Chinenye Adaobi Onyechi, Okechukwu Dominic Onukwuli

.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.

Factorial optimization and kinetics of coal washery effluent (CWE) coag-flocculation by Moringa oleifera seed has been investigated at room temperature based on standard method of bench scale jar test. Moringa oleifera coag-flocculant (MOC) was produced according to work reported by Ghebremichael. A 2³ full factorial central composite design was employed for the experimental design and analysis of results with respect to optimization. The combined effects of pH, dosage and settling time on the particle (turbidity) removal was studied using response surface methodology. Kinetic data generated were confronted with specified kinetic models for the evaluation of functional kinetics parameters. The optimal values of pH, dosage and settling time were recorded at 8,400mg/l and 25 min, respectively. The results of the major kinetic parameters recorded are 2,0.002l/mg.min, and 0.79 min for order of reaction, coag-flocculation reaction rate constant and coagulation period, respectively. The minimum removal efficiency recorded was 95% at 3mins of coag-flocculation. The results, while re affirming MOC as efficient coag-flocculant, confirmed that theory of perikinetics holds for the studied system at the conditions of the experiment.

Moringa Oleifera, Effluent, Coagulation/Flocculation, Optimization

M. Menkiti, C. Nwoye, C. Onyechi and O. Onukwuli, "Factorial Optimization and Kinetics of Coal Washery Effluent Coag-Flocculation By Moringa Oleifera Seed Biomass," Advances in Chemical Engineering and Science, Vol. 1 No. 3, 2011, pp. 125-132. doi: 10.4236/aces.2011.13019.