Evaluation of Mango Leaves Powder-Sudfloc Dosage Ratios for Enhanced Coagulation-Flocculation in Surface Water Treatment

This study investigated the use of mango leaf powder (MLP) as a natural coagulant in surface water treatment, both alone and in combination with Sudfloc, a chemical coagulant. Microstructural analysis of MLP was done through Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analyses as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD). Surface water samples with varying ratios of MLP and Sudfloc treatment were tested for pH, colour, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), and electrical conductivity. The SEM-EDS results showed that the potential of MLP, which promote effective particle adsorption and flocculation, stems from its porous structure and mineral-rich organic matrix. The XRD analysis further revealed an amorphous structure with crystalline phases which supports MLP’s coagulation capabilities. Water quality results showed that a combination of 25% MLP and 75% Sudfloc achieved significant colour and turbidity reductions, nearly matching the performance of full chemical treatment. Using 100% MLP resulted in optimal TDS and conductivity levels while maintaining pH stability at approximately 7.2 across all samples. These findings indicate that MLP can serve as an alternative or supplement to chemical coagulants in order to reduce chemical usage while maintaining effective water treatment performance.