Development and Evaluation of Sequential Batch Reactor with Natural Coagulants for Dairy Waste Water Treatment

India is often heralded as the "Cynosure" of the global dairy industry, boasting a staggering valuation of INR 14,899.8 billion in 2022. This industry has exhibited remarkable and sustained growth in milk product availability since the year 1998. However, it's imperative to concede that the dairy sector concurrently bears the dubious distinction of being one of the most ecologically burdensome industries, primarily due to its substantial effluent output. Approximately 50% of the total dairy wastewater emanates from the rinsing of processing units intricately involved in the production of dairy commodities. The sources of this wastewater are multifarious, encompassing spills and seepage from pipelines, suboptimal tanker drainage, foaming incidents, tank spillages, cleaning operations, and liquid losses. This wastewater comprises milk solids, detergents, sanitizers, milk remnants, and cleaning water. It is typified by elevated concentrations of nutrients, both organic and inorganic, and may also encompass acids, alkalis, active agents, disinfectants, in conjunction with a substantial microbiological load, inclusive of pathogenic viruses and bacteria. In recognition of the imperative need to reclaim valuable milk solids to reinvigorate agriculture, particularly in regions grappling with water scarcity, a comprehensive wastewater treatment strategy was proffered. This strategic framework encompassed the meticulous scrutiny of pivotal parameters such as pH, BOD (Biological Oxygen Demand), and turbidity during the treatment regimen. Moreover, an ongoing discourse pertains to the utilization of natural coagulants for the efficacious treatment of dairy wastewater. Diverse ratios of these coagulants were judiciously introduced to the wastewater under treatment, and the levels of pH, BOD, and turbidity were assiduously assessed upon the culmination of each processing stage. The determination of the treatment process's effectiveness hinged upon the discerning comparison of outcomes arising from the utilization of various reagents or natural coagulants in the treatment protocol.