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Aloe Vera in Water Treatment: Toward a Greener Future for Environmental Engineering

Author

Listed:
  • Danieli Soares Oliveira

    (Federal Institute of Espírito Santo—Campus Cariacica, Rodovia Governador José Sette 184, Cariacica 29150-410, Espírito Santo, Brazil)

  • Raynara Souza Nascimento

    (Federal Institute of Espírito Santo—Campus Cariacica, Rodovia Governador José Sette 184, Cariacica 29150-410, Espírito Santo, Brazil)

  • Clainer Bravin Donadel

    (Federal Institute of Espírito Santo—Campus Vitória, Avenida Vitória, 1.729, Vitória 29040-780, Espírito Santo, Brazil)

Abstract

The use of natural solutions has gained increasing attention as a sustainable alternative for water treatment. In this study, an Aloe vera-based coagulant was evaluated through jar test experiments and a laboratory-scale hydraulic system consisting of an alternative flocculator (such as a helically coiled tube) followed by sedimentation and filtration processes. The jar test experiments demonstrated high turbidity removal efficiency, achieving final turbidity values of 5 NTU or lower under all the tested conditions, in accordance with international environmental regulations and standards. Moreover, in some conditions, turbidity was completely eliminated, highlighting the remarkable coagulation performance of Aloe vera. In the hydraulic system, the results indicated a significant turbidity reduction, with turbidity removal efficiencies of up to 97%, coagulation/flocculation times under 2 min, and sedimentation times of 60 min. However, the combined coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation processes were not sufficient to reduce the final turbidity to below 5 NTU, demonstrating the need for an additional rapid filtration step. The inclusion of this process further enhanced the particle removal, resulting in final turbidity values below 1 NTU, well within the regulatory limits. These results highlight the potential of the tested natural coagulant for application in water treatment systems, establishing it as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for water clarification, with promising prospects for large-scale implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Danieli Soares Oliveira & Raynara Souza Nascimento & Clainer Bravin Donadel, 2025. "Aloe Vera in Water Treatment: Toward a Greener Future for Environmental Engineering," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:4163-:d:1649339
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Danieli S. Oliveira & Clainer B. Donadel, 2024. "Helically Coiled Tube Flocculators in Water Clarification Systems: Optimal Length Evaluation and Process Efficiency Probabilistic Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(5), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Herrera, Veronica, 2019. "Reconciling global aspirations and local realities: Challenges facing the Sustainable Development Goals for water and sanitation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 106-117.
    3. Jéssica R. Silva & Danieli S. Oliveira, 2024. "Water Treatment with Clean Technologies Using Moringa oleifera Seeds in Alternative Low-Cost Clarification Units," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Sabine Weiland & Thomas Hickmann & Markus Lederer & Jens Marquardt & Sandra Schwindenhammer, 2021. "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Transformative Change through the Sustainable Development Goals?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(1), pages 90-95.
    5. Dustin E Garrick & Michael Hanemann & Cameron Hepburn, 2020. "Rethinking the economics of water: an assessment," Oxford Review of Economic Policy, Oxford University Press and Oxford Review of Economic Policy Limited, vol. 36(1), pages 1-23.
    6. Sabine Weiland & Thomas Hickmann & Markus Lederer & Jens Marquardt & Sandra Schwindenhammer, 2021. "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Transformative Change through the Sustainable Development Goals?," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(1), pages 90-95.
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