THE USE OF BENTONITE CLAY AS A COAGULANT OR A COAGULANT AID WITH ALUM IN TURBIDITY REMOVAL

Abstract

The main goal of this study is to use bentonite clay as a coagulant and coagulant aid in removing different water turbidities levels in order to improve drinking water quality at economical costs. The study showed that this material as coagulant has been proven to be efficient especially at low turbidity levels (i.e. not more than 25 ntu) with a dose of not more than 25 mg/l. As a coagulant aid with alum bentonite has shown to very effective with dose as much as 15 mg/l for low and intermediate initial turbidity level (not more than 100 ntu) and with a dose not more than 30 mg/l for high initial turbidity level 500 ntu, this efficiency is be better for low initial turbidity level and with low alum dose.