Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

A Comparative Study of Pre-hydrolysed Coagulants and Alum in Surface Water Clarification

Received: 1 November 2025     Accepted: 14 November 2025     Published: 17 December 2025
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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of two pre-hydrolyzed aluminum coagulants (PAX-XL6 and PAX-XL8) in comparison with aluminum sulfate (alum) for surface water clarification. Jar-test experiments were conducted with coagulant doses ranging from 0 to 15 mg Al/L to determine the optimal dose. Results demonstrated that both the coagulant type and dosage strongly influenced clarification performance. The pre-hydrolyzed coagulants achieved the bests results, with maximum color removal efficiencies of 91.8% and turbidity removals of 89.3% (PAX-XL6) and 84.6% (PAX-XL8) at an optimal coagulant dose of 4 mg Al/L. In contrast, alum showed the lowest clarification performance, achieving maximum color removal of 87.5% and turbidity removal of 80.3%. At 4 mg Al/L, the pre-hydrolyzed coagulants met WHO drinking water guidelines for color and turbidity, whereas alum failed to meet color standard. Beyond 8 mg Al/L, all coagulants exhibited a decrease in clarification efficiency due to colloid restabilization. Regarding water chemistry, PAX-XL6 and PAX-XL8 induced only moderate reductions in pH and alkalinity, whereas alum caused significant acidification and a marked decrease in alkalinity. None of the coagulants affected water hardness. Overall, the pre-hydrolyzed coagulants demonstrated superior clarification performance and reduced chemical impact, confirming their potential as efficient and sustainable alternatives to alum for surface water treatment.

Published in American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 14, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajep.20251406.15
Page(s) 305-311
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Pre-hydrolyzed Coagulants, Aluminum Sulfate (alum), Coagulation, Clarification, Color Removal, Turbidity Removal, Drinking Water, Surface Water Treatment

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Seyhi, B., Sangare, K., Kouadio, G. K. (2025). A Comparative Study of Pre-hydrolysed Coagulants and Alum in Surface Water Clarification. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 14(6), 305-311. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20251406.15

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    ACS Style

    Seyhi, B.; Sangare, K.; Kouadio, G. K. A Comparative Study of Pre-hydrolysed Coagulants and Alum in Surface Water Clarification. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2025, 14(6), 305-311. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20251406.15

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    AMA Style

    Seyhi B, Sangare K, Kouadio GK. A Comparative Study of Pre-hydrolysed Coagulants and Alum in Surface Water Clarification. Am J Environ Prot. 2025;14(6):305-311. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20251406.15

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajep.20251406.15,
      author = {Brahima Seyhi and Kassoum Sangare and Georges Kouame Kouadio},
      title = {A Comparative Study of Pre-hydrolysed Coagulants and Alum in Surface Water Clarification},
      journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
      volume = {14},
      number = {6},
      pages = {305-311},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.20251406.15},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20251406.15},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.20251406.15},
      abstract = {The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of two pre-hydrolyzed aluminum coagulants (PAX-XL6 and PAX-XL8) in comparison with aluminum sulfate (alum) for surface water clarification. Jar-test experiments were conducted with coagulant doses ranging from 0 to 15 mg Al/L to determine the optimal dose. Results demonstrated that both the coagulant type and dosage strongly influenced clarification performance. The pre-hydrolyzed coagulants achieved the bests results, with maximum color removal efficiencies of 91.8% and turbidity removals of 89.3% (PAX-XL6) and 84.6% (PAX-XL8) at an optimal coagulant dose of 4 mg Al/L. In contrast, alum showed the lowest clarification performance, achieving maximum color removal of 87.5% and turbidity removal of 80.3%. At 4 mg Al/L, the pre-hydrolyzed coagulants met WHO drinking water guidelines for color and turbidity, whereas alum failed to meet color standard. Beyond 8 mg Al/L, all coagulants exhibited a decrease in clarification efficiency due to colloid restabilization. Regarding water chemistry, PAX-XL6 and PAX-XL8 induced only moderate reductions in pH and alkalinity, whereas alum caused significant acidification and a marked decrease in alkalinity. None of the coagulants affected water hardness. Overall, the pre-hydrolyzed coagulants demonstrated superior clarification performance and reduced chemical impact, confirming their potential as efficient and sustainable alternatives to alum for surface water treatment.},
     year = {2025}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - A Comparative Study of Pre-hydrolysed Coagulants and Alum in Surface Water Clarification
    AU  - Brahima Seyhi
    AU  - Kassoum Sangare
    AU  - Georges Kouame Kouadio
    Y1  - 2025/12/17
    PY  - 2025
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20251406.15
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajep.20251406.15
    T2  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    JF  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    JO  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
    SP  - 305
    EP  - 311
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-5699
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20251406.15
    AB  - The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of two pre-hydrolyzed aluminum coagulants (PAX-XL6 and PAX-XL8) in comparison with aluminum sulfate (alum) for surface water clarification. Jar-test experiments were conducted with coagulant doses ranging from 0 to 15 mg Al/L to determine the optimal dose. Results demonstrated that both the coagulant type and dosage strongly influenced clarification performance. The pre-hydrolyzed coagulants achieved the bests results, with maximum color removal efficiencies of 91.8% and turbidity removals of 89.3% (PAX-XL6) and 84.6% (PAX-XL8) at an optimal coagulant dose of 4 mg Al/L. In contrast, alum showed the lowest clarification performance, achieving maximum color removal of 87.5% and turbidity removal of 80.3%. At 4 mg Al/L, the pre-hydrolyzed coagulants met WHO drinking water guidelines for color and turbidity, whereas alum failed to meet color standard. Beyond 8 mg Al/L, all coagulants exhibited a decrease in clarification efficiency due to colloid restabilization. Regarding water chemistry, PAX-XL6 and PAX-XL8 induced only moderate reductions in pH and alkalinity, whereas alum caused significant acidification and a marked decrease in alkalinity. None of the coagulants affected water hardness. Overall, the pre-hydrolyzed coagulants demonstrated superior clarification performance and reduced chemical impact, confirming their potential as efficient and sustainable alternatives to alum for surface water treatment.
    VL  - 14
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Geosciences, University Peleforo Gon Coulibaly, Korhogo, Côte d’Ivoire

  • Department of Sciences and Agro-Industrial technologies, University of San - Pedro, San - Pedro, Côte d’Ivoire

  • Department of Science and Technology, École Normale Supérieure, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

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