APPLICATION OF NATURAL COAGULANT (BANANA FEEL) FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT

This study investigates the effectiveness of banana peel as a natural coagulant for wastewater treatment, using domestic wastewater collected from Nasarawa, Damaturu, Yobe State as the case study. The research was motivated by the increasing challenges associated with conventional chemical coagulants, including high cost, environmental concerns, and the generation of large volumes of sludge. Banana peel, an abundant agricultural waste material, was selected due to its rich content of natural polymers such as cellulose, pectin, lignin, and tannins, which facilitate coagulation and flocculation processes. The banana peels were washed, dried, ground, and sieved to obtain a fine powder used for jar test experiments. Wastewater characterization showed initial values of 60 NTU turbidity, 120 mg/L TSS, 210 pt-Co color, 150 mg/L COD, and a pH of 7.4. Coagulation–flocculation tests were conducted using varying dosages (0.1–1.5 g/L) and pH levels (1–12) to determine optimum treatment conditions. Results showed that banana peel exhibited its highest turbidity removal efficiency of 95% at pH 1, with performance decreasing as pH increased. Moderate efficiency was recorded under near-neutral conditions, while the lowest efficiency was observed at alkaline pH levels. The findings demonstrate that banana peel is an effective, low-cost, and eco-friendly natural coagulant capable of significantly reducing turbidity and suspended solids in wastewater, particularly under acidic conditions. The study supports the potential adoption of banana peel as a sustainable alternative to chemical coagulants such as alum, especially in low-income and rural communities. However, limitations such as pH sensitivity and variability in peel composition suggest the need for further research on optimization and large-scale application.