Application of Aloe barbadensis miller for water purification: an ecofriendly coagulation approach

The contemporary water treatment sector increasingly prioritizes sustainable and ecologically benign technologies that protect aquatic ecosystems and enhance public health and quality of life. Despite this progress, traditional treatment frameworks heavily rely on inorganic chemical coagulants, whose efficacy in contaminant removal is countered by risks of ecotoxicity and potential harm to human health. This investigation explores the potential of Aloe barbadensis miller (Aloe Vera) gel as a natural coagulant, targeting reductions in turbidity, suspended solids, and organic carbon in surface and simulated waste waters. The analytical approach centres upon a comprehensive series of jar tests, assessing the influence of coagulant dosage on specified water quality metrics: pH, turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), and total dissolved solids (TDS). Measurement is performed using a calibrated pH meter, a turbidity sensor, and a spectrophotometer for dissolved organic carbon. In parallel, the coagulator is characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fouriertransform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry to elucidate its crystalline phases and identify functional groups relevant to charge neutralisation and particle agglomeration. The combination of physico-chemical analyses and coagulation tests will substantiate the viability of Aloe Vera as a renewable, non-toxic alternative to traditional treatment reagents. The paper demonstrates that Aloe Vera represents a cost-effective, biodegradable alternative for the water treatment sector, capable of reducing reliance on traditional chemical coagulants while advancing public health objectives. The sustainability and eco–friendly treatment that can benefit the environment and improve the water treatment industry significantly uses chemical coagulants as a vital part of eliminating contamination and chemical substances in water samples. Nevertheless, this limitation may affect efforts to demonstrate the effectiveness of organic coagulants in water treatment, particularly in jar test experiments evaluating water quality parameters such as pH, turbidity, TSS, and TDS.