Magnetic Field Effect on Coagulation Treatment of Wastewater Using Magnetite Rice Starch and Aluminium Sulfate

The use of synthetic coagulants to reduce suspended particles from drinkable water and wastewater is prompting new issues because it poses many health and environmental risks. Hence, improving the coagulation process using sophisticated nanotechnology with a magnetic field (MF) for quick recoverability emerges as being useful. In this study, the effects of magnetite rice starch (MS) and aluminum sulfate (alum) were investigated at a constant dose (3 g or 3000 mg/L) using a Jar test (six beakers) as potential low-cost coagulants for industrial wastewater treatment. At a high magnification of 1000x and a surface pore size of 298 mu m, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX) analyses were utilized to elucidate the morphology of the coagulants. Coagulation was performed at 150 rpm (quick mixing) for 2 min, and 30 rpm (slow mixing) for 15 min. Thereafter, samples were allowed to settle (10-60 min) with and without MF. The findings showed more than 65% contaminants removal (turbidity and TSS) and 30% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal using alum while MS showed 80% contaminants removal (turbidity and TSS) and 50% COD removal. MS showed an increase of more than 3% in contaminants removal (COD, turbidity, and TSS) when exposed to MF. As a result, the use of MS together with MF in water and wastewater treatment is anticipated as an environmentally benign and effective coagulant.

Automated summary

Improving the coagulation process using nanotechnology with a magnetic field has been found to be useful for quick recoverability and reducing health and environmental risks associated with synthetic coagulants in water and wastewater treatment. In this study, magnetite rice starch (MS) and aluminum sulfate (alum) were utilized as low-cost coagulants, showing more than 65% contaminants removal (turbidity and TSS) and 30% COD removal using alum, while MS exhibited better performance with 80% contaminants removal (turbidity and TSS) and 50% COD removal. Moreover, the use of MS together with MF resulted in over 3% increase in contaminants removal (COD, turbidity, and TSS).