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Pollution control

Eco-Friendly Alternatives for Water Treatment: Researchers Develop Efficient Xanthan Gum-Coordinated Aluminum Coagulation

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Researchers from Foshan University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of water treatment, developing an eco-friendly alternative to conventional coagulation processes. Their study, published in the Journal of Water Process Engineering, demonstrates the superior efficacy of xanthan gum (XG) as a dual-functional coagulant aid synergizing with aluminum-based coagulants for enhanced turbidity removal and floc stability under low-temperature conditions. This innovative approach has significant implications for water treatment in cold climates and algal bloom scenarios.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that xanthan gum combined with polyaluminum chloride (PAC) achieved 98% turbidity removal at 15°C and 80-90 NTU, outperforming conventional PAC + polyacrylamide (PAM) systems.
  • Response surface methodology revealed that elevated turbidity (120 NTU) compensates for low-temperature limitations (10°C), sustaining 97% removal efficiency.
  • Mechanistic insights from FTIR and XPS analyses identified two pathways: (1) carboxyl (-COO-) coordination with hydrolyzed Al3+ species, and (2) hydroxyl-driven hydrogen bonding, forming shear-resistant floc networks.
  • In real Aulacoseira granulata-polluted water (10-12°C, pH 8.2-8.5), PAC + XG reduced algal density by 88% (to 0.2 x 10^6 cells/L) and turbidity to 0.95 NTU, surpassing PAC + PAM (1.02 NTU).
  • The dual coordination mechanism offers a template for designing natural polymer-based additives, suggesting its potential for real-world implementation in cold climates and algal bloom scenarios.

Statistics:

  • 98% turbidity removal achieved by XG (0.10 mg/L) combined with PAC at 15°C and 80-90 NTU.
  • 97% removal efficiency sustained by PAC + XG at 10°C and elevated turbidity (120 NTU).
  • 88% reduction in algal density achieved by PAC + XG in real Aulacoseira granulata-polluted water (10-12°C, pH 8.2-8.5).

Sources:

  • Journal of Water Process Engineering, 2025; 75
  • NewsRx. Reports Summarize Water Process Engineering Findings from Foshan University (Xanthan Gum-coordinated Aluminum Coagulation: Low-temperature Performance and Floc Analysis Under Aulacoseira Granulata -polluted Water). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. July 11, 2025; p 1536.

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