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Applied Sciences
Volume 15
Issue 22
10.3390/app152211948
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Chemical and Bio-Based Coagulation Coupled with Adsorption: Advancing Leachate Treatment Chemistry

by
Maroua Almi
1,
Nadia Chekir
1,*,
Leila Merabti
2,
Djilali Tassalit
2,
Naima Sahraoui
1,
Soumeya Bouchareb
1,
Khadidja Benkraouche
1,
Wissam Yanina
1 and
Seif El Islam Lebouachera
3,*
1
Laboratory of Matter’s Valorization and Recycling for Sustainable Development, Faculty of Mechanical and Process Engineering, University of Science and Technology (USTHB), Algiers 16111, Algeria
2
Unité de Développement des Équipements Solaires (UDES), Centre de Développement des Énergies Renouvelables (CDER), Tipaza 42415, Algeria
3
Institut Des Sciences Analytiques Et de Physico Chimie Pour L’Environnement Et Les Matériaux, IPREM, UMR 5254, CNRS Université de Pau Et Des Pays de L’Adour, 2 Avenue P. Angot, Technopôle Hélioparc, 64000 Pau, France
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(22), 11948; https://doi.org/10.3390/app152211948
Submission received: 29 September 2025 / Revised: 21 October 2025 / Accepted: 6 November 2025 / Published: 10 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Pollution and Wastewater Treatment Chemistry)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Leachate from the Magtaa Kheira landfill exhibits complex physicochemical characteristics that restrict the efficacy of single-treatment processes. This study assessed a sustainable two-stage treatment strategy combining coagulation–flocculation and adsorption. During the initial stage of the study, both aluminum sulfate (AS) and a bio-based coagulant derived from Moringa oleifera seeds (MOS) were evaluated for their effectiveness in the pretreatment of leachate. Box–Behnken Design combined with Response Surface Methodology was used to optimize the coagulation process using aluminum sulfate (AS). The highest removal efficiencies were 91% for turbidity and 85% for chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, achieved at an AS concentration of 1.44 g·L−1 and an initial pH of 8. In parallel, the performance of MOS extract was investigated as an eco-friendly alternative to AS. An FTIR analysis revealed the presence of protein-associated hydroxyl (3288 cm−1) and carboxyl and amine groups (1647 cm−1), which are integral to destabilization via hydrogen bonding, while SEM confirmed a surface morphology conducive to effective floc formation. MOS demonstrated comparable turbidity removal to AS, significantly reducing both sludge generation and chemical consumption. Following the coagulation stage, treated leachates were passed through a granular activated carbon (GAC) column, enhancing overall COD removal to over 94% to reach acceptable discharge and reuse levels. The coagulation–adsorption sequence, incorporating both chemical and bio-based coagulants, provides an efficient and sustainable approach for the treatment of complex leachate, addressing both performance and environmental considerations.
Keywords: leachate treatment; coagulation–flocculation; adsorption; bio-based coagulant; hybrid treatment processes; Box–Behnken design optimization; Moringa oleifera seeds leachate treatment; coagulation–flocculation; adsorption; bio-based coagulant; hybrid treatment processes; Box–Behnken design optimization; Moringa oleifera seeds

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MDPI and ACS Style

Almi, M.; Chekir, N.; Merabti, L.; Tassalit, D.; Sahraoui, N.; Bouchareb, S.; Benkraouche, K.; Yanina, W.; Lebouachera, S.E.I. Chemical and Bio-Based Coagulation Coupled with Adsorption: Advancing Leachate Treatment Chemistry. Appl. Sci. 2025, 15, 11948. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152211948

AMA Style

Almi M, Chekir N, Merabti L, Tassalit D, Sahraoui N, Bouchareb S, Benkraouche K, Yanina W, Lebouachera SEI. Chemical and Bio-Based Coagulation Coupled with Adsorption: Advancing Leachate Treatment Chemistry. Applied Sciences. 2025; 15(22):11948. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152211948

Chicago/Turabian Style

Almi, Maroua, Nadia Chekir, Leila Merabti, Djilali Tassalit, Naima Sahraoui, Soumeya Bouchareb, Khadidja Benkraouche, Wissam Yanina, and Seif El Islam Lebouachera. 2025. "Chemical and Bio-Based Coagulation Coupled with Adsorption: Advancing Leachate Treatment Chemistry" Applied Sciences 15, no. 22: 11948. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152211948

APA Style

Almi, M., Chekir, N., Merabti, L., Tassalit, D., Sahraoui, N., Bouchareb, S., Benkraouche, K., Yanina, W., & Lebouachera, S. E. I. (2025). Chemical and Bio-Based Coagulation Coupled with Adsorption: Advancing Leachate Treatment Chemistry. Applied Sciences, 15(22), 11948. https://doi.org/10.3390/app152211948

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