Aloe steudneri gel as natural flocculant for textile wastewater treatment

This study focused on the evaluation of Aloe steudneri gel for textile wastewater clarification with identification of major phytochemical groups and physicochemical characteristics of Aloe steudneri. Optimization of pH, flocculant dose, mixing speed and time were studied for Aloe steudneri gel and synthetic polyacrylamide. A jar test was used to perform the flocculation at optimum conditions (pH 7.3, flocculant dose 33 ml, mixing time 20 minutes and speed 61 rpm). Phytochemical groups like tannins, flavonoids and saponins were identified and the gel showed a good result of 1.9 g H2O/dry polymer for swelling capacity and 6.2 g oil/weight for fat adsorption capacity. At the optimum conditions, the turbidity removal was 92.3% for Aloe steudneri gel and 92.7% for polyacrylamide. Moreover, the removal efficiencies for chemical oxygen demand, 5-day biological oxygen demand, total suspended solids and lead were 76.8%, 83.5%, 57.9% and 77% for Aloe steudneri gel and 78%, 89%, 51% and 72% for polyacrylamide, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that Aloe steudneri gel can substitute the polyacrylamide as there are no significant differences in their removal efficiencies.