Paul S.H., Usman A.A., Adeniyi O.D. and Olutoye M.A. (2017), Production and application of Moringa-Aluminates for water treatment as a facile biochemical coagulant, Current Trends in Biomedical Engineering & Biosciences, 3(5), 555622, DOI: 10.19080/CTBEB.2017.03.555622, ISSN: 2572-1151. https://juniperpublishers.com/ctbeb/pdf/CTBEB.MS.ID.555622.pdf

Abstract

A research into the production and application of moringa-aluminate for water treatments as a facile biochemical coagulant was carried out. In this research work, coagulating materials from Moringa oleifera and Alum, (moringa-aluminate), for purifying water were developed and used to treat different samples of raw water from Gurara Dam in Gurara, Lower Usman Dam in Abuja, Chanchaga Dam in Minna and Bosso Dam in Minna. The quality of the treated water was subsequently determined. Parameters such as pH, turbidity, Dissolved Oxygen, Colour, Conductivity, TDS and temperature were determined from the treated water samples. The results of the analysis for the treated water show that pH and turbidity, which are important parameters were averagely reduced by 94% with moringa-aluminate, 91% with Moringa oleifera seed powder and 95% with Alum. The results show that Alum and moringa-gave more efficient treatment but Moringa oleifera also produce water of acceptable quality since in both cases the treated water met WHO portable water standard. However, Moringa oleifera has great advantages which made it a better coagulant than Aluminium Sulphate but Moringa-aluminate has even greater advantages when comparing to the two coagulants. Both moringa-aluminate and Moringa oleifera do not affect the pH of the treated water and their efficiencies are independent of raw water pH. Moringa oleifera is non toxic coagulant but in efficacy of sludge removals, it is less than the two other coagulants. Their application in water treatment give rise to relatively low volume of sludge which is biodegradable and hence an environmentally benign technology. Also, the use of Moringa oleifera gives rise to low cost water treatment and it can be produced locally. Thus, indigenous plant species possessing both coagulating and antimicrobial properties was discovered and used for the development of a modern, efficient and optimum coagulant for all purpose water treatment. Moringa oleifera, was found to provide a good economical and sustainable alternative raw material and can be used simultaneously with Alum to find solution to the use of Aluminium Sulphate (which is conventional chemical coagulant) which excess residue on treated water cause deadly diseases