Wastewater Treatment using Bio-Coagulant as Cactus Opuntia Ficus Indica - A Review

Reusing wastewater by effective treatment can contribute to counter the water scarcity. Conventional metal based coagulant treatment methods may prove inadequate to apply in aspects such as non-biodegradability and altered pH in post-treatment. There has been an extensive research on the use of biological plant material such as Agricultural waste, Chitosan, Moringa Oleifera, Eichhornia crassipes, Bark of acacia, Surjana seed, Maize seed, Tannin, Cicer aretinum, Cactus plant etc. as a coagulant. The present paper review to explore the use of cactus species in the bio-coagulation process and also it aims about investigation on effectiveness of cactus species Opuntia Ficus Indica as bio-coagulant which involve pH implication in post-treatment. In addition, the cactus had no significant effect on pH of treated water. This review highlights about optimum dosage and optimum pH at which turbidity removal is maximum. Some studies show the effectiveness of cactus in removing chemical oxygen demand (COD) and coloration in wastewater. Plant-based coagulants have the potential are effective in wastewater treatment which is sustainable and environmentally appropriate. The bio-coagulant proved to be efficient in turbidity and colour removal.