ABSTRACT
Introduction: Colloidal materials and suspended solids cause turbidity in water. To remove turbidity, clarification method is used that includes processes of coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation
Due to the long duration of coagulation process, coagulant aids are applied. Despite the favorable efficiency of synthetic polyelectroiytes as a coagulant aid, due to their harmful effects on human health, in this process natural organic polymers are used instead
Methods: In this research, the use of tragacanth as a natural organic coagulant aid instead of.synthetic polymers in water turbidity removal along with alum and poly aluminum chloride is studied To compare the experiments with natural conditions, Karun River water is analyzed. To complete these studies, the effects of several factors such as tragacanth concentration, the concentration of alum and poly aluminum chloride, and pH changes in average and low turbidity are investigated. Optimum pH for turbidity removal was determined by jar testing
Results: The results showed that the best pH to remove turbidity is 5.5 to 7, with the efficiency of 97.3%. At PH = 6 and at the concentration of 30 mg/L, poly ammonium chloride has maximum efficiency [90%]
Using tragacanthat concentrations of 1 and 4 mg/L along with alum at a concentration of 40 mg/L leads to turbidity removal of 81.75%
Conclusion: Using 2 and 4 mg/L of tragacanth, a significant removal efficiency is achieved in low and average turbidity.pH=7 leads to the most efficient use of tragacanth coagulant aid