**Author details**

The Zeta potential of the biopolymers shows similar values in the range of pH 4 and 10, which may indicate a similar activity with solid particles of small size, such as those that generate

It is important to note that all plants used have the potential to treat water; and that the efficiency differences can be associated to the affinity for different particles and their extraction form.

All the extracts showed turbidity and color removal, with efficiencies higher than 88%, which indicates that the extraction methodologies conserve the coagulant and flocculant capacity of

The biopolymers of *Melocactus* sp., *Opuntia* sp., *Stenocereus griseus*, *Cereus forbesii*, *Aloe arborescens*, *Aloe vera*, and Kabuli chickpea (*Cicer arietinum* L.) have an activity for coagulation and

The plants with the best performance in the removal of turbidity and color were *Melocactus* sp., and Kabuli chickpea (*Cicer arietinum* L.), with the best percentages of elimination of solids

The Z potential measured to the extracts of *Melocactus* sp. and Kabuli chickpea (*Cicer arietinum* L.) has similar values in the range of pH 4–10, which shows a similar activity for the

The biopolymers of the plants *Melocactus* sp., *Opuntia* sp., *Stenocereus griseus*, *Cereus forbesii*, *Aloe arborescens*, *Aloe vera*, and Kabuli chickpea (*Cicer arietinum* L.) can be a viable alternative for the treatment of drinking and residual water, in replacement of sulfate of aluminum, aluminum polychloride, and ferric chloride; decreasing the amounts of dissolved metals in drinking water of humans and animals, especially with the aluminum residues associated

We are very grateful to the University of Santander in Colombia, which granted a large part of resources to carry out this book chapter; also to the University of Valladolid Spain, for

Likewise to all the people of the universities, who personally helped their commitment to this work.

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this

turbidity and color in the water.

382 Desalination and Water Treatment

**6. Conclusions**

water flocculation.

of small size of water.

**Acknowledgements**

**Conflict of interest**

document.

suspended particles of the water used in the tests.

with diseases such as autism and Alzheimer [16-23].

facilitating that one of our authors could be part of this document.

each plant.

Jesús Epalza1 \*, Jhoan Jaramillo2 and Oscar Guarín<sup>1</sup>

\*Address all correspondence to: manuelepalza@gmail.com

