Highly efficient removal of surfactant from industrial effluents using flaxseed mucilage in coagulation/photo-Fenton oxidation process

In this study, flaxseed mucilage (FSM) has been used as a green coagulant in the pretreatment stage of a combined process for the removal of an anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). In the post-treatment stage, heterogeneous photo-Fenton-like oxidation using MnFe2O4 nanocatalyst was applied to remove the remained SDS. Using response surface methodological approach, optimum condition in the coagulation process was obtained at pH 7.0, FSM dose of 100 mg L−1 and 30 min. In the photo-Fenton oxidation process, complete SDS removal was achieved using 76 mg of the nanocatalyst, 1.07 mL of H2O2 at 17 min. Application of the combined process on the real wastewater samples indicates that the proposed method can be used effectively for the treatment of industrial effluents containing surfactants. [Display omitted] •A new biocoagulant from Flaxseed was introduced for surfactant removal.•Flaxseed coagulant performed better than conventional chemical coagulants.•Complete surfactant removal was achieved by coagulation/Fenton oxidation.•The coupled treatment process is efficient and cost effective.