Turbidity Removal Efficiency of Biocoagulant and Verifications of Its Biological Safety

Abstract

The chitosan-based biocoagulant was developed and applied to reduce the turbidity of superturbid drinking water. After a serial experiment on jar tester and a continuous flow pilot plant it was concluded that the residual turbidity of the treated water can meet the regulated value, i.e., 5 nephelometric turbidity unit easily under an economical condition. In addition to turbidity reduction, an acute oral toxicity study was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of biocoagulant itself and the water after treatment in imprinting control region mice by oral gavage. The experimental results show that no death and treatment-related clinical signals were found in animals within the 14-day study period. There were no differences in bodyweights among all treated and control mice. The results indicate that the developed biocoagulant prevailed over the current chemical coagulants not only on treatment efficiency, but also on biosafety. By applying dual coagulants operation model, the superturbid water can be treated efficiently and economically, under which the water deficiency during typhoon period can be eliminated completely.