Comparative Evaluation of UiO-66 and Natural Coagulants for Turbidity Removal from Surface Water
Juliet D. Dodo *
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Lawal Y. Shaikarau
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Shangkum Y. Goji
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Dauda B. Azik
Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Saraya N. Yakubu
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, PMB 2084, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Rabiat A. Lawal
National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Wase Study Center, Plateau State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Turbidity removal is a critical step in surface water treatment. This study presents a comparative evaluation of Metal-Organic Framework (UiO-66) nanoparticle, Moringa oleifera (MO) seed powder, Azadirachta indica (AI) seed powder as coagulants for turbidity removal from simulated and surface water. Coagulation-flocculation experiments were conducted using simulated water (212 NTU) and turbid water from a mining pond (7 NTU, pH 6.9). The effects of coagulant dosage (0.06–0.30 g), settling time (30 min–3 hours), and different coagulant combinations (ratios 1:1 to 1:9) were evaluated. Results showed UiO-66 nanoparticle had highest removal (99.53–100%), at optimal conditions (0.18 g dosage, 3 hour settling), MO (97.64%) and AI(95.28%). Coagulant combinations showed MOF/MO (1:5 ratio) 91.98%, MOF/AI (1:5) 91.04% removal. Increasing coagulant dosage improved removal efficiency from (0.18–0.24 g). Physicochemical properties of treated turbid water showed improvements: pH (6.5–6.8), alkalinity (120 to 21–30 mg/L, (MOF), total hardness (24 to 8–11 mg/L), TDS (40 to 10–26 mg/L), nitrate (60 to 9–36 mg/L), phosphate (27 to 5.4–17.6 mg/L). UiO-66 nanoparticle demonstrated superiority across all parameters. This study establishes UiO-66 as an effective coagulant for turbidity removal, potential for integration with natural coagulants is an alternative for sustainable water treatment.
Keywords: UiO-66 nanoparticle, Moringa oleifera, Azadirachta indica, coagulation, turbidity removal