Use of Natural Coagulants in Removing Organic Matter, Turbidity and Fecal Bacteria from Hospital Wastewater by Coagulation-Flocculation Process

Abstract

Hospital wastewater represents an infectious and toxic risk to human health and the environment due to its contents. Most hospitals in developing countries, including Benin, do not have a wastewater treatment plant. In this study, the wastewater from two hospitals in northern Benin was characterized and then treated with Azadirachta indica leaves, Moringa oleifera and Luffa cylindrica seeds by coagulation/flocculation process. The wastewater characteristics showed that the collected samples are greatly polluted by organic matter and fecal bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Enterococcus fecal and Total coliforms. Jar-test results revealed that 95.74%, 78%, 49.19% of turbidity, 51.35%, 38.32%, 22.19% of COD, 93.16%, 85.26%, 83.30% against Escherichia coli, 92.11%, 90.93%, 94.60% against total Coliforms and 99.37%, 91%, 99%, 55.07% against Enterococcus were removed from hospital wastewater using Moringa oleifera, Luffa cylindrica seed and Azadirachta indica leaves respectively at dose of 100 mg/L. The results highlighted that the natural coagulants could be successfully used for the removal of turbidity and fecal bacteria from hospital wastewater.

Parametrical Study for the Effective Removal of Mordant Black 11 from Synthetic Solutions: Moringa oleifera Seeds’ Extracts Versus Alum

“…According to several studies [22,23], the biocoagulant (MO seed extract) is nonhazardous, inexpensive, and ecologically friendly. However, MO use as a biocoagulant for the removal of anionic dyes is more limited, the vast majority of studies focused on the reduction of turbidity from wastewater (real or synthetic) [24][25][26], and MB11 removal has not been attempted using this bio-based material in prior studies.…”