Dairy processing generates large volumes of heavily polluting wastewater that is often discarded improperly, making it a major environmental burden for the dairy industry. This study evaluated whether Moringa oleifera can serve as a natural coagulant to treat it.
Using standard jar tests (rapid then slow mixing followed by sedimentation), the researchers compared coagulants on simulated dairy wastewater and measured colour and turbidity removal across different concentrations and pH levels.
Key findings
- The study confirmed moringa’s ability to coagulate and clarify dairy wastewater.
- Colour and turbidity removal varied with coagulant concentration and pH, allowing the process to be tuned.
- Moringa offers a natural alternative to synthetic coagulants for food-industry effluent.
Caveat: jar tests on simulated dairy wastewater; real effluent composition varies and will need site calibration.
Summary of: (2017). “Evaluation of natural coagulant moringa in the treatment of dairy wastewater.” Acta Horticulturae, 1158. DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2017.1158.40. Summarised by MORIFA; full paper via the link above.