Evaluation of the Potential of Opuntia Ficus-Indica Cladodes as a Natural Flocculant for Wastewater Treatment through Simple Procedures
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1
Master student, University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
2
PhD student, Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, University of Évora, Portugal
3
Comprehensive Health Research Center, Departamento de Ciências Médicas e da Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, University of Évora, Portugal
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Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Departamento de Fitotecnia, Escola de Ciências e Tecnologia, University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Publication date: 2021-05-01
J. Ecol. Eng. 2021; 22(5):249-257
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ABSTRACT
Nowadays there is a search for new alternatives to replace harsh and expensive chemical methods to wastewater treatments. The common methods include the usage of chemicals that negatively affect the environment and the human health. The cladodes of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill have a great potential for use in innovative, cheap, renewable and eco-friendly water treatment due to their flocculant properties. In this work, different water treatments including fresh cladodes, lyophilized cladodes and the material obtained through mucilage extraction were tested. The turbidity of the water was measured, and it was concluded that the use of 60 g of small pieces of fresh cut cladodes was the method with the best results, reaching 4 NTU of turbidity. It confirmed the ability of O. ficus-indica (L.) Mill cladodes to promote the flocculation of clay in water, enabling to turn the unused material waste into a useful raw material.