ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFICIENCY AS COAGULANT-FLOCCULANT OF MUCILAGE OBTAINED FROM PRICKLY PEAR (Opuntia ficus-indica)

Abstract

Water purification continues to be a matter of concern in several rural areas in Bolivia. Within SDG 6, affordable and accessible methods are sought for water treatment in remote areas. This work aimed to evaluate the efficiency as a coagulant-flocculant of the mucilage obtained from the Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus - indica), a wild-growing plant, to remove turbidity from the surface and synthetic waters. The mucilage was extracted with 96% ethanol, dried and pulverized. Turbidity, coagulant dose, and initial pH modification were determined. River water samples with turbidity between 117 to 120 NTU and synthetic water with turbidity between 50 to 683 NTU were used. The optimal dose for river water was 35 mg/L and an efficiency of 80.40±1.16% and 20 mg/L and 82.9±1.68% efficiency for synthetic water of similar turbidity. In both cases, the pH of the water did not change. The results show that the mucilage is more efficient in water with high turbidity (>110 NTU). Additionally, coagulation, followed by a filtration stage, would allow reaching the turbidity established in the regulations for drinking water.