Mitigating pollutants in textile dye wastewater with Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. and Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench: A study on treatment efficacy

Abstract

Textile wastewater, particularly those containing dyes, presents significant threats to environmental quality and human health. This study assessed the efficacy of Aloe vera (L.) Burm. f. and Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench (Okra) in removing pollutants from textile dye effluent collected in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu. The effluent samples were treated with varying doses of phyto-coagulants (0.02 g, 0.04 g, 0.06 g, 0.08 g, 0.10 g, and 0.12 g), as well as isolated polysaccharides from Aloe vera and Okra, to identify optimal strategies for reducing color, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). The findings revealed that the phyto-coagulants, particularly Okra polysaccharides, significantly reduced pollution levels, achieving a 90 % reduction in color, 96 % reduction in TDS, and 82 % reduction in COD. To further understand the mechanism of pollutant removal, GC–MS, FTIR, and Zeta potential analyses were conducted. This study highlights the effectiveness of natural coagulants in mitigating environmental pollution and preventing the entry of harmful chemical contaminants into the food chain. The study supports the potential of Aloe vera and Okra as sustainable and eco-friendly solutions for addressing the environmental challenges posed by textile wastewater pollution.