Water Turbidity Removal by Natural Coagulants

摘要

The ability of seed extracts of chestnut and acorn, to act as natural coagulants was tested using a synthetic turbid water. Active components were extracted with distilled water from ground: (1) whole seeds, (2) shell and (3) kernel of horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum, and acorns of Quercus robur. The coagulation ability of these extracts was assessed by the use of standard jar test measurements in water with various values of initial turbidity. Synthetic water was prepared by adding kaolin into tap water, just before the test. The extracts showed different coagulation activities in water with different initial turbidity. The best coagulation properties have had the both shell extracts in a water with high initial turbidity, while the kernel extracts showed good coagulation activities in a water with low turbidity. The lowest coagulation activity has had the extract of whole chestnut seeds.