Abstract:
Detergent wastewater contains high levels of surfactants, particularly Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS), which are persistent and harmful to aquatic ecosystems. This study evaluated the potential ofMoringa oleiferaseed (MOS) extract as a natural coagulant for detergent wastewater, compared with alum as a synthetic coagulant. The coagulation process was carried out using the jar test method at varying dosages (100–1500 mg/L) and pH levels (4–9). Turbidity was measured following SNI 06-6989.25-2005, while LAS concentration was analysed using the Methylene Blue Active Substances (MBAS) method. Under pH-optimized conditions, MOS achieved95.63% turbidity removal and 71.31% LAS removal at pH 4 (1500 mg/L), whereas alum performed best atpH 6–7 (200 mg/L), reaching 52.79% turbidity removal (pH 6) and 38.79% LAS removal (pH 7).Validation on stored wastewater (1–3 nights) further indicated that MOS provided more consistent reductions in both turbidity and LAS than alum. An in-silico docking study also confirmed the molecular interaction between LAS and MOS proteins (binding energy –4.8 kcal/mol), supporting the observed experimental results. Overall, MOS demonstrates strong potential as a sustainable, effective, and low-cost alternative to alumfor detergent wastewater treatment
