Coffee processing produces an acidic, corrosive wastewater that is dangerous for the environment — a significant issue in coffee-growing countries like Indonesia. This study applied Moringa oleifera seed as a natural coagulant to treat it.
Using a completely randomised design, the researchers optimised coagulation-flocculation by varying the mesh size (fineness) of moringa seed powder, with and without the seed rind, and measured the reduction in coffee-wastewater pollution.
Key findings
- Moringa seed powder effectively coagulated pollutants in acidic coffee wastewater.
- The mesh size of the powder and whether the rind was included significantly affected performance.
- An optimal preparation was identified for maximum pollution reduction.
Caveat: a design-of-experiments optimisation specific to coffee wastewater; other effluents need separate tuning.
Summary of: (2019). “Moringa seeds application as natural coagulant in coffee wastewater treatment.” IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci., 347, 012019. DOI: 10.1088/1755-1315/347/1/012019. Summarised by MORIFA; full paper via the link above.