Coagulation-Flocculation of Aquaculture Wastewater Using Green Coagulant from Garcinia kola Seeds: Parametric Studies, Kinetic Modelling and Cost Analysis

Chinenye Igwegbe, Joshua O. Ighalo, Okechukwu Dominic Onukwuli, Ifeoma Amaoge Obiora-Okafo and Ioannis Anastopoulos
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Joshua O. Ighalo: Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P. M. B. 5025, Awka 420218, Nigeria
Okechukwu Dominic Onukwuli: Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P. M. B. 5025, Awka 420218, Nigeria
Ifeoma Amaoge Obiora-Okafo: Department of Chemical Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, P. M. B. 5025, Awka 420218, Nigeria
Ioannis Anastopoulos: Department of Agriculture, UoI Kostakii Campus, University of Ioannina, 47040 Arta, Greece

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 16, 1-21

Abstract: To achieve sustainability, it is necessary to use proper treatment methods to reduce the pollutant loads of receiving waters. This study investigates the coagulative reduction of turbidity, COD, BOD and colour from aquaculture wastewater (AW) using a novel Garcinia kola seeds coagulant (GKC). This coagulant was obtained from extraction of Garcinia kola seeds and analysed for its spectral and morphological characteristics through FTIR and SEM. The kinetics of coagulation-flocculation were also investigated in terms of total dissolved and suspended solids (TDSP). The seeds had 11.27% protein and 68.33% carbohydrate, showing usability in adsorption/charges neutralisation as a coagulant to reduce particles. Maximal turbidity reduction = 81.93%, COD = 75.03%, BOD = 72.84% and colour = 56.69% at 0.3 g GKC/L, pH 2, 60 min and 303 K were achieved. Von Smoluchowski’s second-order peri-kinetics theory was used to fit the results, giving R 2 > 0.9. At a coagulation order ( ? ) of 2, the reaction rate ( K C ) and half-life ( ? S 1 / 2 ) were 0.0003 L/g·min and 25.3 min at the optimal conditions. The sorption data better fit the Lagergren compared to the Ho adsorption model. Furthermore, the net cost of using GKC to handle 1 L of AW (including electricity and material costs) was calculated to be 1.57 EUR, and the costs of 0.3 g/L GKC preparation and energy were 0.27 and 1.30 EUR, respectively. In summary, these seeds can be used to pre-treat AW.

Keywords: Garcinia kola; aquaculture; coagulation; water treatment; adsorption; turbidity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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