Evaluating the effectiveness of different masses of date seeds as natural coagulants in the process of treating textile wastewater

Abstract The textile sector is grappling with the challenge of managing its waste, which is laden with diverse colours and chemicals. A standard method for treating this type of industrial effluent is coagulation-flocculation, recognised for its ability to reduce suspended solids, organic compounds, turbidity, and discolouration. However, the employment of chemical coagulants tends to produce considerable amounts of non-biodegradable sludge and metallic contaminants in the treated water, posing significant environmental and health hazards. A potential solution involves using plants or microbial substances instead of chemicals by dissolving dry seed date powder with NaCl to create a natural coagulant in saline solvent form. This study investigates the potential of using date seeds as a natural alternative to chemical coagulants in wastewater treatment. It evaluates the effectiveness of varying masses of date seeds (1.0g, 1.5g, 2.0g, 2.5g) with a consistent NaCl solvent concentration (1.0M) as a natural coagulant. Jar test was utilised with this extraction form of natural coagulant to determine its effectiveness in treating wastewater from the textile industry. The study assesses Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), turbidity, colour, and pH to gauge the wastewater’s reaction to the date seed treatment. SEM and XRD analyses were conducted on the dry date seeds to understand their structure, revealing irregular shapes, macro-sized pores, and an amorphous material structure. Results indicated a significant reduction in water turbidity and colouration, with a 71.64% decrease in turbidity achieved using 25 ml of coagulant at a 2.5-gram dry seed mass. Similarly, a 2.0-gram seed mass was found to reduce COD by 80% with a 10 ml coagulant dosage. The most significant colour reduction was 27.70%, achieved with a 2.5-gram seed mass at a 25-ml dosage. This investigation sheds light on the potential for developing organic coagulants for industrial wastewater treatment, offering a more sustainable approach to managing environmental pollutants.