WATER CLARIFICATION USING STRYCHNOS POTATORUM
ABSTRACT
Water is used for several purposes by humans but the level of purity of the
water being consumed is very crucial since it has a direct effect on health. Safe
drinking water should generally be free from heavy metals, turbidity, organic
compounds and pathogen. conventional treatments of water often include
sedimentation, filtration and disinfection. Among the coagulating agents used in
water treatment, ferric sulphate or alum (aluminium sulphate) is some of the most
widely used salts. Aluminium is strongly neurotoxic and may be involved in the
development of Alzheimer’s disease. known fact that most of the chemical
disinfectants used for antibacterial activity generate various unwanted chemicals
known as disinfection by products (DBPs) in water.
There DBPs are associated with harmful effects on humans such as hemolytic
anemia, cancer risk, nervous system effect and liver effects. Addressing these
problems calls out for a tremendous amount of research to be conducted to identify
robust new methods of purifying water at lower cost and with less energy, while at
the same time minimizing the use of chemicals and impact on the environment.
Performance of Strychnos potatoram seed extract as primary coagulant and
compared with the performance of alum. Strychnos potatoram seed extract is
effective as prime coagulant. The effectiveness of Strychnos potatoram 50, 100 and
150 mg/l were taken and checked for the efficiency dose on raw groundwater in the
removal of turbidity, total hardness, pH, COD, BOD and total dissolved solids (TDS)
has been investigated. The results obtained from this study satisfy the drinking water
standards
KEYWORDS: Natural coagulant Strychnos potatorum seed powder, rural
populations, unsafe drinking water sources, coagulating and purifying efficacy.
INTRODUCTION:
Turbidity removal is one of the important steps in water treatment process and
generally is achieved by using coagulation process. Turbidity is caused by the
presence of suspended particulate matter or impurities that interfere with the clarity
of the water such as clays, silts, finely divided inorganic and organic particles,
soluble substances, plankton and other microscopic organisms in water. Turbidity
can also provide food for pathogenic microorganisms and particles of turbidity
provide shelter for microorganisms by reducing their exposure to attack by
disinfectants. Many coagulants have been widely used in conventional watertreatment processes depending on their chemical characteristics.
The process of coagulation to clarify water using coagulant or coagulant aid
is an ancient practice. Many developing countries can hardly afford the high costs
of imported chemicals for turbid water and wastewater treatment. In this context,
environmental friendly coagulant presents a viable alternative for the treatment of
wastewater and turbid water. The natural Strychnos potatorum (Nirmali seed) is
widely used as coagulants to clarify turbid waters. In recent years natural and
synthetically prepared organic Strychnos potatorums have been increasingly used in
the coagulation of suspended matter in water and wastewater treatment. The natural
coagulants extracted from plants or animals can be workable alternatives too
synthetic Strychnos potatorums as they are biodegradable, safe to human health and
have a wider effective dosage range for flocculation of various colloidal suspensions.
STRYCHNOS POTATORUM SEED POWDER
OBJECTIVE:
The main objective of this study is to confirm the effectiveness of powder
processed from Strychnos potatorums seeds as water coagulant.
ADVANTAGES:
 Strychnos potatorum seeds has water clearing and purifying capacity.
 It functions as a natural coagulant as well as antimicrobial agent for the
treatment of ground drinking water source.
 Seed powder can be used in the rural areas where no other facility is available
for purification of drinking water.
 As it is natural coagulant and microbicidal agent it does not have toxic effects
on humans.
APPLICATION:
 Household and Community Level water treatment units.
 Treatment Unit operations and processes.
 Existing conventional water treatment plants with slight modifications.
 New water treatment plants.
 Use processed Strychnos potatorum seed from medium technology or high
technology.
 Provide manual of operation for dosing, filter maintenance etc.