Uso do quiabo (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) no processo de tratamento de água para abastecimento humano: ensaios preliminares

Abstract

Conventional water treatment systems for human supply, around the world, use chemical products to carry out the coagulation and flocculation steps, necessary to guarantee the potability standards indicated for safe water consumption. It has been observed that safety due to the absence of pathogenic microorganisms or natural particles that cause diseases is guaranteed, but the insertion of metallic salts such as aluminum sulfate into the water generates residual aluminum that can cause neurological problems. In an attempt to reduce the amount of these metallic salts, natural coagulants/flocculants are an alternative, which can also function as aids in obtaining water suitable for human consumption. Okra is one of these alternatives, featuring long chains of polysaccharides that can remove impurities from water as well as provide weight and size to the particles, helping the clarification processes. The present study aims to test the applicability of solutions produced with okra powder and okra mucilage as aids in the coagulation/flocculation process to guarantee quality water and also analyze their influence on sludge formation. The water tested comes from the Rio da Dona spring, and is used by EMBASA to supply the cities of Santo Antônio de Jesus, Varzedo and nearby areas. Using Jar Test tests to analyze the parameters color, turbidity, alkalinity, pH and temperature of the water after decantation, the results found indicate that the optimal dosage of aluminum sulfate for the tests was found to be 70 mg/L, for okra. powder as a coagulation aid 70 mg/L, okra mucilage as a coagulation aid presented an optimal dosage of 60 mg/L and as a flocculation aid 10 mg/L. The addition of high dosages reduces sludge formation when using okra mucilage as a flocculation aid.