Magnetic Natural Coagulants for Plastic Recycling Industry Wastewater Treatability

The plastic recycling industry generates a high volume of wastewaters. In this study, an unprecedented use of Moringa oleifera and tannin (Acacia mearnsii bark) associated with magnetite was proposed for the treatment of these wastewaters. The response surface method (RSM) and central composite rotational design (CCRD) methodology was applied to optimize the influence of operational variables (pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, turbidity, apparent color, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total solids) on the performance of the magnetic natural coagulants on coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation process. The results indicated that temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and total solids did not generate significant differences in treatments when magnetite was added to natural coagulants. Similarly, the parameters apparent color, turbidity, and COD also did not present significant differences in treatments with Moringa oleifera and magnetite association, although achieving high efficiencies. Finally, the addition of magnetite significantly improved tannin efficiency removal for turbidity, apparent color, and COD with the optimized treatment (21.55 mg L-1 of tannin concentration and 28 min of sedimentation). Thus, natural coagulants associated with magnetite are potential alternatives for the treatment of plastic recycling wastewater and could be used as an environmentally friendly coagulant.