Research papers of the week – December 19, 2022

Chinenye Adaobi Igwegbe; Prosper Eguono Ovuoraye; Andrzej Białowiec; Charles Okpala; Okechukwu Dominic Onukwuli; Mohammad Hadi Dehghani

Scientific Reports

Ministerial score = 140.0
Journal Impact Factor (2022) = 4,997 (Q2)

Aquaculture effluent treatment is essential to eliminate the undesirable characteristics of water to ensure cleaner production and environmental sustainability. In an effort to develop green coagulant without compromising cost, this research investigated the feasibility of aquaculture effluent (AQEF) pollutant removal using Picralima nitida seeds extract (PNSC) and its bio-coagulation/adsorption kinetic characteristics with the substrate in water. The coagulative decrease was observed in terms of TD (turbidity), TSS (total suspended solids), COD (chemical oxygen demand), BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), and COLR (color) from AQEF. The active coagulant was extracted from the seeds and analyzed for its spectral and morphological characteristics through FTIR and SEM. The influence of PNSC dosage (0.10–0.50 g L−1), pH (2–10), settling time (0–60 min), and temperature (303–323 K) on the removal of contaminants were surveyed. The process kinetics of coagulation–flocculation were also explored. Maximal TD reduction of 90.35%, COD (82.11%), BOD (82.38%); TSS (88.84%), and COLR (65.77%) at 0.2 g PNSC L−1, pH 4, and 303 K was achieved. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests proved that pH, temperature, and settling time had a significant effect on pollutant removal. Results fitted Von Smoluchowski’s perikinetics theory at the optimum conditions, which gave R2 > 0.900. At perikinetics circumstances, the Kb (reaction rate) and tf12 (half-life) correspond to 0.0635 Lg−1 min−1 and 1.9 min. More so, sorption results fitted the Lagergren over the Ho model. Additionally, the net cost of using PNSC to handle 1 L of AQEF (including electricity, material, and labor costs) was evaluated to be €4.81. Overall, the PNSC appears reliable and useful in pretreating AQEF for improved biodegradability and superior effluent quality.

DOI:10.1038/s41598-022-26044-x

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