Lim Mei Zhen Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS
This innovation introduces a groundbreaking, zero-waste solution: a plant-based biopolymer flocculant derived from Black Chickpea waste (Cicer arietinum). The technical novelty involves grafting the extract with 2-methacryloyloxyethyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (DMC) to create a highly efficient, non-toxic alternative to synthetic chemical flocculants. Unlike conventional coagulant, this product is non-toxic and environmentally friendly. Performance was rigorously optimized using the Box-Behnken Response Surface Methodology, predicting an optimal microalgae harvesting efficiency of 97.82% with a mean error below 5%. This robust methodology confirms the potential for a sustainable, low-cost alternative, delivering significant environmental, societal and economic impact in water treatment and biomass recovery.