Effectiveness of locally available plant materials in the dry zone of Sri Lanka as natural coagulants in treating turbid water

Purpose: Polyaluminium chloride (PAC) is used to treat the turbid water at treatment plants. As an alternative, natural coagulants are being tested as those biodegradable and safe for human health. The study focused test locally available five different plant species coagulants. Research method: Turbid samples were treated separately by 50ppm 100ppm of PAC a control, powdered Moringa (Moringa oleifera), Arjun (Terminalia arjuna), Jack fruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus), Clearing nut (Strychnos potatorum L.) seeds Aloe (Aloe vera) treatments. Turbidity, pH, EC measured before after experiments conducted full nested design effect coagulant variety concentration on turbidity removal with mean comparison using Turkey’s Studentized Range Test 0.05 significant level. Finding: showed highest efficiency 84.8 (± 8.9) %. demonstrated 42.6 6.71) %, 34.9 6.03) % respectively it was significantly (P<0.05) higher than 18.2 9.3) 30.4 23.7) This concludes that among tested, has capability removing water. limitation: seed powder taken from shop which may be inferior quality compared fresh powder. Originality/ Value: There potential use collected dry zone coagulant.