Quality of water treated by coagulation using Moringa oleifera seeds

A model turbid water was treated by coagulation-flocculation and sedimentation, with Moringa oleifera seeds as a coagulant, using jar tests. The quality of the treated water was analyzed and compared with that of the water treated with alum. Experiments were conducted at various dosages of the crude 5% water extract of both dry, shelled and non-shelled Moringa oleifera seeds. Measurements of pH, conductivity, alkalinity, cation and anion concentrations, showed that coagulation with Moringa oleifera seeds did not significantly affect the quality of the treated water. However, concentration of organic matter in the treated water increased considerably with the dosage of Moringa solution. Since this organic matter might exert a chlorine demand and also act as precursor of trihalomethanes during the disinfection with chlorine, it is suggested that Moringa oleifera a seeds be used as a coagulant in water and wastewater treatment, only after an adequate purification of the active proteins. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.