Turbidity reduction efficacies of seed kernels of Mango (Mangifera indica) genotypes in Uganda

Alum and ferric salts as traditional chemical coagulants for turbidity removal in water and wastewater are expensive, and have known harmful effects. Thus, attempts to replace the chemical coagulants with safe and effective natural solutions are increasingly being made in terms of research studies to investigate the coagulation efficacies of various plants one of which is Mango (Mangifera indica). It is worth noting that M. indica has various genotypes of different origins across the world. In this study, eight (8) common M. indica genotypes in Uganda were identified, protein contents of their seed kernels determined, and coagulating efficacies investigated. Coagulation solution of each selected genotype was obtained by dissolving 5 g powder of the selected Mango seed kernel sample in 100 mL of distilled water. Next, 5 mL of this coagulant (or stock) solution was used to treat 200 mL of turbid water with turbidity ranging from 15 to 120 NTU. Using 0.01 M hydrochloric acid as an extraction solvent, protein contents of selected genotypes including Apple mango, Kate, Kent, Bire, Doodo red, Takataka, Kagoogwa, and Tommy Atkins were 38.02 %, 30.66 %, 15.94 %, 22.11 %, 21.50 %, 16.98 %, 16.36 %, and 17.87 %, respectively. Efficacies of coagulant from Apple mango, Kate, Kent, Bire, Doodo red, Takataka, Kagoogwa, and Tommy Atkins seed kernel samples were 92.2, 89.3, 66.0, 78.7, 76.9, 71.1, 68.9, and 73.1 %, respectively. Apple mango was the best performing genotype as a coagulant and this was followed by Kate. Coagulation efficacy was generally found to increase with increasing turbidity and/or coagulant's concentration. For instance, Apple Mango coagulant removed 16.7 %, 50.3 %, and 92.2 % of initial turbidity 15, 65 and 120 NTU, respectively. Kent removed 57.5, 66, and 69 % of initial turbidity 120 NTU using 5, 20, and 30 mL of stock solution, respectively. This study demonstrated the influence of the choice of a plant genotype on coagulation efficacy.