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Defluoridation of potable water employed by natural polysaccharide isolated from Tamarindus indica L

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Abstract

The current study evaluated the effectiveness of Tamarindus indica L. seed polysaccharides in removing fluoride from potable water collected from Sivakasi,Viruthunagar district, Tamil Nadu, India. The physiochemical properties of the water samples were examined, and each parameter was compared to the standard prescribed by Bureau of Indian standards. Most of the parameters were within the permissible limit except for fluoride levels in the Sivakasi water sample. Polysaccharides were isolated from Tamarindus indica L. seeds and the fluoride removal efficacy of the polysaccharides was evaluated. The optimum treatment dosage of the isolated seed polysaccharides was determined using aqueous fluoride solutions of various ppm concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 ppm). Tamarindus polysaccharides were added to the aqueous solutions in varying doses (0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 1.0, and 1.2 g), and 0.04 g was observed to be the most effective at removing fluoride (by 60%). It was selected as the optimum dose for treating the fluoride-contaminated water sample. Following the treatment, fluoride concentration in the water sample dropped from 1.8 mg/L to 0.91 mg/L, falling below the BIS standard limit. The findings from the study demonstrated the use of T. indica L. seed polysaccharides as an effective natural coagulant for removing fluoride from potable water. GC-MS and FTIR analysis of the isolated polysaccharide samples were performed. The FTIR results revealed the functional groups that might attribute to the fluoride removal activity of the isolated polysaccharides. The observations from the study suggested that Tamarindus polysaccharides might be used as an alternative to chemical agent used for fluoride removal in order to preserve the environment and human welfare.

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Despite centuries of advancements in water treatment, hundreds of millions of people worldwide continue to suffer detrimental health impacts from drinking water with unsafe fluoride levels. Our study compares the...
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Saline oily wastewater is among the greatest environmental issues that requires effective treatment methods. The new trend of using natural coagulants to treat saline oily wastewater can help overcome the drawbacks of inorganic coagulants such as high costs, health risk, and large amounts of sludge. In the present study, the Lallemantia mucilage was used for the first time as a novel natural coagulant, which offered a remarkable performance in bilge water treatment at the optimum condition of coagulants dose = 10 mg/L, pH = 7.00, and contact time = 23.8 min with the maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 87.57 % and influent COD of 1202.5 ± 8.5 mg/L. Also, at the optimum condition, Lallemantia mucilage could remove surfactant up to 20.6 % with influent concentration of 55 ± 0.4 mg/L. A quadratic polynomial with R² = 0.9943 for COD removal showed a satisfactory fit and consistency. The predictability of Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS) method with R2 = 0.95235 was significant compared to the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with R2 = 0.9599. The second-order kinetic equation performed better in terms of kinetic determination with k = 0.00009, E = 1.42776E+13, and R2 = 0.9642 than the first-order model with k = 0.0159, E = 2.52237E+15, and R2 = 0.9431.
Article
Natural organic matter (NOM) represents a range of soluble and insoluble material which can have considerable impact on drinking water quality. In addition to creating problems with taste, odour, clarification, and colour, removal of NOM is problematic because it can initiate the formation of disinfection by-products, which can adversely affect human health. Numerous technologies and methods have been employed to remove NOM in water treatment, with the most common processes involving the use of coagulants and similar technologies. This paper provides an overview of the most widely studied coagulants, coagulant aids, dual coagulants, and alternative coagulants. The paper also investigates the effects of operating parameters such as temperature, coagulant dose, pH, use of inorganic salts, inorganic polymeric coagulants, and organic polyelectrolytes in terms of charge neutralisation, polymer adsorption, and polymer bridging. Finally, emerging technologies and the use of novel coagulants are investigated.
Article
Fluoride contamination due to natural and anthropogenic activities has become the biggest threat to human health worldwide. Geological and anthropogenic factors are responsible for contaminating groundwater with fluoride. Excess amounts of fluoride in potable water may cause irreversible demineralization of bone and tooth tissues, a condition called fluorosis, and long-term damage to the brain, liver, thyroid, and kidney. For a long time there has been a need for fluoride removal from potable water to make it safe for human use. The present paper reviews the different methods used for defluoridation, for example, coagulation–precipitation, ion exchange, membrane separation, and adsorption. Among the methods, membrane and ion exchange are not regularly used in India due to their cost and high maintenance. On the other hand, coagulation–precipitation and adsorption are mostly used in India. Nalgonda method is used in developing nations like Kenya, Senegal, Tanzania, and India for fluoride removal. Comparatively, adsorption is broadly used for defluoridation because of its low cost and high efficiency in removal. This paper also discusses the merits and demerits of the methods. It is evident from literature study that different methods show unique potential for defluoridation. The most promising adsorbents tested so far from each category of adsorbents are also highlighted. In any circumstance, there is an urgent requirement to find the practical utility of such developed methods on a business scale and to initiate a change in contamination control.
Article
The use of Moringa oleifera (MO) for cleaner processes in water treatment has been proposed to treat raw water for low-income locations for its abundant availability, low cost, reduced by-product generation, biodegradability, non-toxicity and multifunctional behavior. This review analyzed studies that used MO seeds in coagulation-flocculation processes, identifying the main proteins that presented coagulant activity. It was concluded that its most viable application would be as flocculation aid, since it was possible to reduce the concentration of the chemical coagulant with good removal results. Regarding the use of MO as adsorbent, studies could verify its potential to remove several water contaminants, such as pesticides, dyes and pharmaceuticals. Moreover, hybrid treatments have been investigated, however, a research gap could be verified regarding studies on pilot scale, which are fundamental for verifying the viability in water treatment plants. In this sense, the main trends, challenges and recommendations for further studies were assessed regarding the sustainable application of MO seeds in water treatment.
Article
In present study, water quality was assessed by collecting ten water samples in and around Tiruppur city of India. The physico-chemical characterisation of the water samples were analyzed using standard protocols. The samples with higher chloride content (3106 mg/L) was found in Ganapathy Palayam sample, the value was higher than the BIS prescribed limit. The sample was subjected to treatment with various dosages of the phyto coagulating agent Tamarindus indica L. seed powder and its polysaccharide. The maximum 51 % of chloride reduction was obtained with 0.3 g of seed polysaccharide, and it was taken as optimum dosage. The raw seed removed 47 % of chloride by the dosage 0.4 g. The seed powder was characterized by GC-MS and FT-IR analysis. The GC-MS chromatogram showed the presence of various phytocompounds such as lupanine, cyclopropane octanoic acid, ascorbic acid, octadecanoic acid in the plants. The functional groups found in the seed powder were characterized by FTIR analysis. The evaluated results confirmed the contamination of potable water in Tiruppur city by the dyeing industries located near the water sources. The present work concluded that tamarind seed coagulants are efficient, eco-friendly, low-cost and easily available material, which could be used for the treatment of potable water.
Article
To have or not to have fluoride in water is quite a debatable proposition although an upper limit of 1.0 mg L⁻¹ is regarded as fairly safe. It has been known since long that small amount of fluoride is good to prevent tooth decay. However, the deleterious effects of excess fluoride in water have led to the evolution of diverse defluoridation strategies. With the growing concern in the development of novel and eco-friendly adsorbent materials, it is also important to improvise and re-examine the strengths and shortcomings of the various techniques. Fluoride, being a hard base, the modification of materials with hard cations such as Al(III) fosters effective coordination as Al–F bonding on the surface. Towards this direction, we present an overview on different methods to alleviate the fluoride contamination and assess the importance of inherently sustainable adsorbent materials that could propel more research and development towards realizing the goal of clean and safe drinking water.
Article
The effects of different purification methods on the yield, chemical composition, physicochemical, and emulsifying properties of tamarind seed gum were investigated. Low purity gum (TSG LP ) was extracted from whole tamarind seeds; medium purity gum (TSG MP ) was extracted from defatted tamarind kernel, and high purity gum (TSG HP ) was extracted as TSG MP and soluble protein was removed. Fourier transform infrared spectra showed that characteristic peaks of the polysaccharide backbone did not change through purification, while deconvolution of the amide I region revealed that the protein was denatured. Hydrophobic interaction chromatography of TSG HP showed a main fraction (F 3 ) containing protein strongly attached to the polysaccharide backbone. Yield and zeta (ζ)-potential values of the gums decreased as their purification increased. Flow behavior of TSG solutions (1.5 and 2.0% w/w) was described by Ellis model, where low shear limiting viscosity and time constant associated to the relaxation time of polymers in solution exhibited higher values as concentration and purification were increased. Oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions (E) prepared with 2% w/w TSG gum solutions showed initial oil droplets of 1.35 ± 0.15 μm for E LP , of 4.82 ± 0.10 μm for E MP , and of 9.45 ± 0.10 μm for E HP . E LP and E HP exhibited higher creaming stability (21 days) than E MP . It was concluded that emulsion stability was due to a complex interplay between several factors, including chemical composition, apparent viscosity, contact angle, interfacial tension dynamics, surface charge, all of which had bearing on the electrosteric repulsion terms and adsorbed layer mechanical properties around the oil droplets.
Article
With the advent of hydrogen as a vehicle fuel and with technological advances in the 1980s, various materials have been examined in order to store hydrogen. Traditional hydrogen storage requires a huge amount of initial pressure for the initial condensation of hydrogen. Nanomaterials rely not only on their intrinsic and unique features but also on their ability to act as effective immobilization matrices. Here we demonstrate a novel class of hydrogen storage nanosystems (polycrystalline Ba2Co9O14) with unique structure and high power electrochemical discharge efficiencies. The Ba2Co9O14 nanostructures are synthesized purely via a well-known Pechini method in the presence of both ethylene glycol (EG) and poly(ethylene glycol)-600 (PEG-600) as a cross linking agent and space filling template, respectively, after thermal treatments. Our nanosystems consist of the particles ranging from 10 to 30 nm and average crystallite size of ∼27 nm. The electrochemical properties achieve an interesting discharge efficiency of around 850 mAh.g⁻¹ in 15th cycles.
Article
This article focuses on the application of clay, kaolinite, for the removal of fluoride ion from Saharan groundwater located in the Tindouf region (Algeria) because high concentrations are detected in potable water. Adsorption tests show that fluoride ion removal was efficient when the pH varies from 4.5 to 6. Under these conditions, the adsorption capacities were 0.442 and 0.448 mg/g, respectively. Kinetic and isotherm adsorption correlations were applied to describe the adsorption process. The results showed that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm fit well the experimental data. Thermodynamic calculation indicated that fluoride sorption into clay increased with increasing temperature from 30 to 55 °C, indicating the endothermic nature of sorption process. The investigation of the removal of fluoride from simulated potable water shows that the presence of nitrate and chloride ions did not influence the fluoride uptake. However, sulfate and carbonate ions decrease the adsorption capacity. Such results show that these ions may enter in competition with each other that may result in electrostatic repulsive forces between fluoride and clay surface. From this study, it can be concluded that the kaolinite is an effective and low-cost material for the removal of fluoride ions from groundwater.
Article
The paper describes the isolation and screening of plant polysaccharides namely tamarind seed polysaccharide (TSP), fenugreek seed mucilage (FSM) and jackfruit seed starch (JFSS) from tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) seeds, fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seeds and jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus L.) seeds, respectively. The yields of isolated dried TSP, FSM and JFSS were 47.00%, 17.36% and 18.86%, respectively. Various physicochemical properties like colour, odour, taste, solubility in water, pH and viscosity of these isolated plant polysaccharides were assessed. Isolated polysaccharide samples were subjected to some phytochemical identification tests. FTIR and (1)H NMR analyses of isolated polysaccharides were performed, which suggest the presence of sugar residues. Isolated TSP, FSM and JFSS can be used as pharmaceutical excipients in various pharmaceutical formulations. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Article
: Ninety children with dental fluorosis, aged 7–18, living in fluoride endemic, non-iodine deficient areas of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India, where iodized salt has been promoted for over a decade, were investigated, along with 21 children in two control groups without dental fluorosis living in non-endemic areas, to determine their levels of free T 4 (FT 4), free T 3 (FT 3), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The drinking water fluoride of the 90 children in the sample group ranged from 1.1 to 14.3 mg F – /L (mean 4.37 mg F – /L); their serum ranged from 0.02 to 0.41 mg F – /L (mean 0.14 mg F – /L); their urine ranged from 0.41 to 12.8 mg F – /L (mean 3.96 mg F – /L). The drinking water fluoride of the control I group (n = 10) ranged from 0.14 to 0.81 mg F – /L (mean 0.23 mg F – /L) and that of the control II group (n = 11) ranged from 0.14 to 0.73 mg F – /L (mean 0.41 mg F – /L). In control I, only 3 children had serum fluoride below the normal upper limit of 0.02 mg F – /L. The remaining 7 children, even though they were consuming "safe" water, had elevated serum fluoride. In control II, only one child had serum fluoride below the normal upper limit. The remaining 8 children who were tested also had elevated serum fluoride. In control I, only 3 children had urine fluoride samples in the normal range (0.09–0.10 mg F – /L); in the remaining 7 children they were above normal. In control II, only one child had urinary and serum fluoride within the normal range. In the remaining 8 children who were tested it was high, suggesting they had excess F – exposure from sources other than drinking water. The hormonal status of the 90 sample children indicated that 49 (54.4%) had well-defined hormonal derangements. In the remaining 41 children the findings were borderline. The hormonal deviations among the affected 49 children fall into the following five categories: (1) high TSH with normal FT 4 and FT 3 (46.9%); (2) normal TSH and FT 4 with low FT 3 (32.7%); (3) high TSH and FT 3 with normal FT 4 (14.3%); (4) high TSH with normal FT 3 but low FT 4 (4.1%); and (5) high TSH with normal FT 4 but low FT 3 (2.0%). In control I and control II, similar hormonal deviations were detected in as many as 50% and 45.4% of the children, respectively.
Article
Use of extracts from Moringa oleifera (MO) is of great interest for low-cost water treatment. This paper discusses water and salt extraction of a coagulant protein from the seed, purification using ion exchange, its chemical characteristics, coagulation and antimicrobial properties. The coagulant from both extracts is a cationic protein with pI greater than 9.6 and molecular mass less than 6.5 kDa. Mass spectrometric analysis of the purified water extract indicated that it contained at least four homologous proteins, based on MS/MS peptide sequence data. The protein is thermoresistant and remained active after 5h heat treatment at 95 degrees C. The coagulant protein showed both flocculating and antibacterial effects of 1.1--4 log reduction. With samples of high turbidity, the MO extract showed similar coagulation activity as alum. Cecropin A and MO extract were found to have similar flocculation effects for clay and microorganisms. Simple methods for both the purification and assay of MO coagulating proteins are presented, which are necessary for large-scale water treatment applications.
Characterization and biomedical application of Tetradecamethylcycloheptasiloxane, a silicone-type biosurfactant produced by Streptomyces castaneoglobisporus AJ9 isolated from solar salt works
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Treatment of textile wastewater using Moringa oleifera and Tamarindus indica
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Ramesh, S., Mekala, L., 2018. Treatment of textile wastewater using Moringa oleifera and Tamarindus indica. Int. J. Eng. Res. Technol. 6, 3891-3895.
Application of natural coagulants extracted from common beans for wastewater treatment
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Characterization and biomedical application of Tetradecamethylcycloheptasiloxane, a silicone-type biosurfactant produced by Streptomyces castaneoglobisporus AJ9 isolated from solar salt works
  • M B S Donio
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Donio, M.B.S., Remya, R., Michaelbabu, M., Uma, G., Citarasu, T., 2022. Characterization and biomedical application of Tetradecamethylcycloheptasiloxane, a silicone-type biosurfactant produced by Streptomyces castaneoglobisporus AJ9 isolated from solar salt works. Indian J. Mar. Sci. 51, 694-704.
Application of natural coagulants extracted from common beans for wastewater treatment
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Kukić, D., Šć iban, M., Prodanović, J., Vasić, V., Antov, M., Nastić, N., 2018. Application of natural coagulants extracted from common beans for wastewater treatment. Adv. Civ. Eng. 9, 77-84.