PREPARATION OF ALGINATE BOUND MINERAL COMPOSITE GRANULES AND PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF CHANGES IN WATER HARDNESS

This study reports preparation of bentonite–glauconite–vermiculite–quartz granules with sodium alginate and preliminary changes in water hardness. An 800 g mineral blend (30:30:20:20 wt%) was mixed with 10 g sodium alginate dissolved in 300 g water. Granules were hardened in 10 g CaCl₂ dissolved in 300 g water for 30–40 min, washed and dried at 100 °C for 3–5 h. In one test, 300 g water passed through approximately 1 kg of granules (not confirmed dry) in 5–10 min. Total hardness declined from 25.00 to 5.00 meq/L (80.0% apparent reduction); calcium decreased from 272.54 to 40.08 mg/L and magnesium from 138.62 to 36.48 mg/L. These preliminary observations require replication, controls, analytical validation and leaching tests; potable-water safety was not established.