“Light scattering study of algal floc growth and structure: alum vs polymeric plant-derived flocculant”
Temitope Orimolade
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
Abstract
Harmful algal blooms (HABs), caused by cyanobacteria such as Microcystis aeruginosa, pose a global threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health due to toxin production. This study evaluated aqueous Moringa oleifera seed extracts as sustainable biocoagulants for flocculating M. aeruginosa, comparing their performance to alum using light scattering and fractal analysis. Moringa oleifera seeds contain arginine-rich, high isoelectric point proteins that induce aggregation via patch flocculation. These proteins were extracted, quantified, and applied to study cyanobacteria removal at cell densities ranging from 200 to 800 μg/L chlorophyll a. Light scattering provided insights into the floc evolution process and formation mechanisms, while fractal analysis revealed structural properties influencing floc stability (Orimolade et al., 2024). These findings highlight Moringa oleifera seed extract as a promising, eco-friendly alternative to conventional flocculants like alum.
Reference:
Orimolade, T., Le, N. T., Trimble, L., Ramarao, B., & Krishnan, S. (2024). Light scattering study of algal floc growth and structure: alum vs. polymeric plant-derived flocculant. Soft Matter. https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SM00837E
Wednesday, 12/4/2024 at 4:30 pm
CAMP 176
Short bio
Temitope Orimolade is a Ph.D. student in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Clarkson University, under the mentorship of Prof. Sitaraman Krishnan. His research centers on biomass valorization and sustainable water treatment, with a focus on developing eco-friendly biocoagulants to combat harmful algal blooms.