Joy Anne T. Tabangcora¹,²
¹University of Saint La Salle, Bacolod, Negros Occidental
²Environment and Natural Resources Office, City Government of Silay
Abstract
This study aimed to develop a biodegradable flocculant from breadfruit starch (Artocarpus altilis) as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical flocculants for river water treatment. Breadfruit starch was isolated, acetylated using acetic anhydride, and ultrasonicated at 140 W for 75 minutes to produce Starch Nanoparticle (SNP) bioflocculant, reducing particle size from 6,270.80 nm to 407.20 nm. The acetyl percentage and degree of substitution of the synthesized SNP bioflocculant were 9.78% and 0.41, respectively. Despite a low yield of 1.27%, the SNP showed promising flocculation performance. Water from the Ngalan River exceeded national standards during inclement weather, highlighting the need for treatment. Jar test experiments were conducted using 1 liter of river water to evaluate both the synthesized bioflocculant and the commercial flocculant. ANOVA results show a significant difference in color and turbidity removal but no significant difference in Total Suspended Solids (TSS). It was revealed that the 9 mL dose of 0.1 wt. % SNP bioflocculant was the minimum effective amount, achieving the lowest recorded values for color, turbidity, and TSS which consequently resulted to the highest removal efficiencies. A T-test further reveals that the SNP bioflocculant is more effective than the commercial flocculant in color removal, while both flocculants perform similarly in turbidity and TSS reduction. The SNP bioflocculant outperformed the commercial flocculant in color removal and showed comparable effectiveness in reducing turbidity and TSS, though it required a higher dose. Despite this, it achieved higher overall removal rates and shows promise as an effective, eco-friendly alternative for water treatment.
Keywords: acetylation, flocculant, potable, turbidity, ultrasonic
Read more: https://vjsti.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/02-VJSTI-011.pdf