Clarification of colloidal and suspended material in water using triethanolamine modified maize tassels

Abstract

Suspended particles in water are a major concern in global pollution management. They affect the appreciation of water due to clarity, photosynthesis, and poor oxygen environment rendering water unsuitable for aquatic animals. Some suspended materials contain functional groups capable of forming complex compounds with metals making them available for poisoning. Such material promotes the growth of bacteria and fouling that give rise to unpleasant taste and odor of the water and thus requires removal. Removal of suspended solids is normally achieved through sedimentation or filtration. However, some suspended colloidal particles are very stable in water and cannot settle while others are able to pass through the filter due to small size, hence difficult to remove. This study investigated the use of triethanolamine-modified maize tassels to form a flocculent for their removal. The modified maize tassels were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and it was found that the triethanolamine was anchored within the cellulose structure of the maize tassels. Clarification parameters such as settling time, reagent dosage, and pH were investigated. The best clarification was at a pH of 6.0 with clearance being less than in 30 min. The optimal flocculent dosage was found to be 3.5 ml of the material, showing that the material has a potential of enhancing clarity in polluted water.

Role of coagulation/flocculation as a pretreatment option to reduce colloidal/bio-colloidal fouling in tertiary filtration of textile wastewater: A review and future outlooks

“…Lyophobic colloids include metals, metal sulfides, and oxides; they are known as hydrophobic. Because of the difference in their characteristics, they react differently to alterations in their environment (Koohestanian et al, 2008). This could be difficult not only for the tertiary filters but also for the pipeline; they can clog and damage the system.…”

“…Suspended solids from wastewater could be removed with simple conventional physical treatment techniques such as sedimentation and filtration, and dissolved solids can be easily removed with chemical and biological degradation (Ahmed et al, 2021), while colloid (depending on size and surface charge nature) solids could not be easily removed by conventional physical treatment and/or chemical and biological degradation methods. This is because colloidal materials are very stable in the liquid phase and cannot settle out and/or pass through the filter due to their small size and, hence, are difficult to remove (Kinyua et al, 2016). Thus, the removal of colloidal solids needs to be seen critically as it is the most difficult aspect of conventional wastewater treatment.…”

Archidendron jiringa seed peel extract in the removal of lead from synthetic residual water using coagulation-flocculation process

“…However, some suspended colloidal species resist to be settled because of their high stability in water, and some manage to pass through the filter due to their tiny size. As a result, the coagulation and flocculation process is considered the best alternative method to be used with the use of coagulants to induce charge neutralisation of colloidal particles and make the particles clump together and settle as flocs [9].…”

Use of Leuconostoc Mesenteroides to Produce a Dextran Bioflocculant

“…Wastewater can contain two types of solids, those that settle and those of the colloid type (that do not settle due to gravity). These suspended particles are a major concern worldwide since they affect water quality in terms of its clarity, photosynthesis and an inadequate oxygen environment, making the water unsuitable for wildlife (Wei et al, 2018;Kinyua et al, 2016).…”