Utilization of organic coagulant based on Tamarindus índica as tertiary treatment in wastewater

Abstract

The protection of water resources through the implementation of wastewater treatment processes has become a significant challenge for the Central American region, due to the increasing eutrophication of water bodies caused by the discharge of wastewater with high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus. Consequently, various research efforts have been undertaken to propose local mechanisms to reduce these nutrients. One such method involves the use of Tamarindus indica seeds, as their chemical composition includes glutamic acid, which, according to Campos et al. (2003), is responsible for their coagulation capacity. This study analyzed the development of a coagulant based on Tamarindus indica seeds to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing phosphate-P and nitrate-N in secondary treated wastewater. The results showed a maximum reduction of 46.42±24.06% for phosphate-P and 37.87±29.61% for nitrate-N, using doses of 120 and 95 milligrams of organic coagulant, respectively. Therefore, Tamarindus indica seeds may be an option for reducing phosphate and nitrate when reductions of less than 50% are required.