Optimizing COD reduction in dairy wastewater treatment using magnetic coagulant derived from Moringa oleifera

In wastewater treatment scenarios, traditional coagulants are becoming increasingly complex and raising environmental concerns. This has led to the exploration of magnetized plant-derived coagulant as an alternative. In this paper, coagulation parameters such as coagulant dosage and pH were optimized through response surface methodology (RSM) based on a central composite design (CCD) employing a magnetic coagulant derived from Moringa oleifera seeds (M. oleifera–CoFe2O4). The optimized response variable during the treatment of dairy wastewater was the chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction. The response surface methodology revealed a statistically significant second-order polynomial model (R2 99.24%) for maximizing COD reduction. The maximum COD reduction achieved was 76.13% under optimal conditions with coagulant dosage of 14.24 g/L and pH of 9.38. The results indicated that magnetic coagulant derived from M. oleifera seeds demonstrated significant potential and can be used in an efficient and eco-friendly process for dairy wastewater treatment. Keywords: coagulation, dairy wastewater, flocculation, magnetic coagulant, Moringa Oleifera.