Robust statistical optimization study for pollutant degradation in landfill leachate using bio-coagulant

Leachate contains huge amount of organic and inorganic substances which leads to environmental contamination. Coagulation study was performed with Taguchi experimental design using Musa acuminata Colla leaves (MACL) as a bio-coagulant for the removal of pollutants from leachate waste-water. Orthogonal arrays L16 plan and larger the better formula was employed for this optimization study. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy studies were carried out to identify the changes in surface morphology, presence of functional groups and interaction effect between of Musa acuminata Colla leaves (MACL) coagulant and pollutants in leachate wastewater before and after the treatment. It was investigated how well Musa acuminata Colla leaves coagulant (MACLC) could remove color, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), Cr, Cd, and Cu from leachate wastewater. The pH, coagulant dosage, contact time and agitation speed were used as control variable and color, COD, TSS, Cr, Cd, and Cu were considered as responses. Optimum results were obtained at level 3 (pH = 6), level 2 (dosage = 1 g/L), level 4 (time = 60 min), and level 3 (agitation speed = 90 rpm), the maximum removal was occurred at the respective levels were color (91%), COD (77%), total suspended solids (83%), and heavy metals removal as Cr (89%), Cd (78%), and Cu (87%). Present study reveals that MACLC is a promising coagulant for treatment of leachate as an alternate to the synthetic coagulant and Taguchi experimental design is an efficient and cost-effective optimization tool for the treatment of landfill leachate.