Study on Moringa oleifera Lam. Syn. Seed as a Ecofriendly Coagulant and Antimicrobial agent for Water Purification

Poornima Shukla¹*, Ashok Kumar Tiwari², Pankaj Mishra¹

¹School of Environmental Biology, APS University, Rewa (M.P.)

²Junior Research Officer, Ayurveda Sadan, JRD Tata Foundation for Research in Ayurveda & Yoga Science, Arogyadham, Deendayal Research Institute, Chitrakoot, District-Satna, India 485334 (M.P.)

*Corresponding Author E-mail: gangagargi@gmail.com, ashokckt77@yahoo.com, poornimashukla1992@gmail.com

Abstract:

Clean water is essential for good health. In many developing countries it is still difficult to obtain clean water. The purpose of this research work is to provide information on natural, ecofriendly and cheaper coagulant and antimicrobial agent for water purification. Moringa oleifera Lam. Syn. seed is very effective natural agent used for water treatment. M. oleifera is a tropical plant whose seeds contain water soluble substances that have coagulation activity in water impurities. During this study, surface water samples were collected for treatment by Munaga (Drum Stick tree) seeds in powdered form, resulting in an effective natural clarification agent for highly turbid and untreated pathogenic water. After treatment of seed powder with water samples were analyzed for different parameter like pH, total hardness, chlorides, Ca hardness, alkalinity, acidity, iron, fluoride and six pathogenic microbial species. All parameters were reduced after treatment with seed powder respectively. Findings of this research lend support to earlier works recommending the use of Moringa oleifera seed for water treatment.

KEY WORDS: Moringa oleifera, Coagulant, Antimicrobial activity, Ecofriendly.

Introduction:

Moringa oleifera Lam.Syn. is widely cultivated species of Moringaceae family. It is native to the sub-Himalayan tracts of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan (Gupta, 2008). Almost every part of the plant (leaves, flowers, seeds, roots and bark) can be used as food or with medicinal and therapeutic purposes (Anwar et al., 2007), specially folklore region in developing countries. In addition to food, shelter and clothing, water is one of our basic human needs and lack of potable water is a major cause of death and disease in our world. Clean water is essential for good health.

Received on 22.01.2016 Modified on 17.02.2016

Research J. Science and Tech. 8(1): Jan.– Mar. 2016; Page 45-50

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2988.2016.00006.1

In many countries it is still difficult to obtain clean water. Chemical cleaning agent like Aluminium sulphate (Alum), are used in drinking water treatment plant for purification process. The excess use of chemical coagulants can cause adverse effects on human health e.g. Aluminum has also been indicated to be a causative agent in neurological diseases such as pre-senile dementia (Muyibi and Evison, 1994).

To overcome chemical coagulant problems it is necessary to increase the use of natural coagulants for drinking water treatment. Moringa oleifera is a perfect example of a so-called “Miracle tree”. Earlier studies have found Munaga to be non-toxic, and recommended it to use as a coagulant in developing countries. Higher turbidity levels are often associated with higher levels of disease-causing micro organisms such as viruses, parasites and some bacteria. These organisms can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches. Water-borne infectious disease caused by viruses, bacteria, protozoa and other micro organisms is associated with outbreaks of and background rates of disease in developed and developing countries worldwide. Munaga seeds possess antimicrobial properties reported that a recombinant protein in the seed is able to flocculate Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cells. In this case, microorganisms can be removed by settling in the same manner as the removal of colloids in properly coagulated and flocculated water. On the other hand, the seeds may also act directly upon microorganisms and result in growth inhibition.

Naturally occurring coagulants are usually presumed safe for human health. The use of Munaga seed has an added advantage over the chemical treatment of water because it is biological and has been reported as edible (Mangale et al., 2012; Alo et al., 2012). According to Muyibi and Evison (1994) hardness removal efficiency of Moringa oleifera was found to increase with increasing dosage. Moringa oleifera is the best natural coagulant discovered so far that can replace Aluminum sulphate (Alum), which is used widely for water treatment around the world.

MATERIALS and METHODS:

Collection of plant materials:

Good quality dry seeds of Moringa oleifera were selected from the pods that were collected from herbal garden in Arogyadham, Chitrakoot, Satna (MP). M. oleifera (good quality dried drumstick were selected and) wings and coat from seeds were removed. The pods collected were allowed to completely dry on the tray drier. Fine powder was prepared by using mixer grinder and this powder was directly used as coagulant.

Treatment of water with Moringa seeds powder:

Water samples for study purpose were collected from Mandakini river at Arogyadham Ghat and Vaidehi pond Arogyadham Parisar, Chitrakoot, Satna (M.P.). Treatment to water was given by directly using seed powder. The water quality parameters were checked before and after treatment. Doses of seed powder i.e. 50, 100 and 150 mg/l were selected for treatment by supporting table of Micheal Lea Clearing house, Low cost water treatment technologies for developing countries, Ottawa, Canada (Table 1).

Table 1: Dose range of M. oleifera seed powder given by Micheal Lea clearing house, Low cost water treatment technologies for developing countries, Ottawa, Canada.

S. No.	Raw Water Turbidity (NTU)	Dose Range of M. oleifera Seeds Powder (mg/l)
1. 1.	<50	50
2. 2.	50-150	100
3. 3.	>150	200

The coagulant was mixed with drinking water sample and kept on the shaker for 45 min at 110 -120 rpm. The settling time was 1-2 hours (depending on the water turbidity). After sedimentation, supernatant of treated water was used for test. The water quality parameters were checked for physicochemical and bacteriological parameters as per standard methods before and after the treatment (APHA, 2005; Saxena, 1994). The efficiency dose of M. oleifera seed powder was determined.

Result AND Discussion:

Colour:

The initial dark greenish colour of Mandakini river water was removed after treatment of M. oleifera seed powder. Yellowish colour of Vaidehi pond water become transparent after treatment. The M. oleifera seeds show good absorbent and clarification properties in high or low turbid water (Table 2).

Table 2: Physico-chemical examination of water sample

S. No.	Parameter	Mandakini river water at Arogyadham Ghat		Vaidehi pond water at Arogyadham Parisar, DRI
S. No.	Parameter	Before Treatment	After Treatment	Before Treatment	After Treatment
1. 1.	Color	Dark greenish	Light yellowish	Yellow	Transparent
2. 2.	Odour	Bad smell	Remove bad smell	-	-
3. 3.	Temperature (⁰C)	26.0	27. 2	28.4	27.5
4. 4.	pH	8.35	6.09	8.12	7.07
5. 5.	Alkalinity (Mg/l)	212.00	124.00	104.00	48.00
6. 6.	Chloride (Mg/l)	340.38	241.10	70.91	42.54
7. 7.	Total hardness (Mg/l)	496.00	132.00	340.00	220.00
8. 8.	Ca hardness (Mg/l)	60.55	52.14	42.05	33.64
9. 9.	Iron (Mg/l)	1.544	0.56	1.22	0.31
10. 10.	Fluoride (Mg/l)	2.0	1.5	1.5	1.0

pH:

The water sample is treated with Moringa oleifera seed powder. During the analysis, it was observed that after treatment with Munaga seed powder; pH was decreased. After treatment the range of pH was 6.09 - 7.07 and within the limit (Table 2). The recommended acceptable range of pH for drinking water specified by WHO is between 6.0 and 8.0. The pH increases with increasing concentrations of the Munaga as coagulant. It was reported that the action of M. oleifera as a coagulant lies in the presence of water soluble cationic proteins in the seeds (Eman et al., 2010).

Alkalinity:

When water sample is treat with M. oleifera seed powder, it was observed that the Alkalinity of sample reduced after the treatment. After treatment alkalinity become 124.0 and 48.0 mg/l (Table 2 and Figure 1and4). The slight decrease in alkalinity and pH of all water samples may be due to precipitation of insoluble products of the reaction between the M. oleifera and the hardness-causing ions similar to precipitation softening using lime/soda ash. It was confirmed that alkalinity reduction in the coagulation of water sample using M. oleifera seeds (Francis and Benang, 2009; Daniy et al., 2011).

Chloride:

The Chlorides were present in Mandakini river and Vaidehi pond 340.38 and 70.91 mg/l (Tiwari and Chaturvedi, 2012; Chaurasia and Raj, 2013; Gangwar et al., 2012) in the water samples. It was observed that Munaga seed treatment reduces the chloride level, because cations from the seed attract negatively charged chloride ions present in water sample and neutralize the chlorides and therefore chloride ions range 241.10 and 42.54 mg/l in Mandakini river and Vaidehi pond water samples (Table 2 and Figure 1and 4).).

Total hardness:

After treatment It was observed that total hardness of water is decreased with increased dose of Munaga seed powder. The higher value of Munaga seed powder for the surface water and groundwater samples is due to the fact that they contain hardness due to calcium, magnesium and other hardness-causing substances. This implies that as the number of hardness increases, the required dosage of Moringa oleifera seed powder increases ((Table 2 and Figure 1and 4).

Ca Hardness:

Before treatment Ca hardness of Mandakini river and Vaidehi pond water sample is 60.55 and 42.05 mg/l observed. After treatment with Munaga seed powder Ca hardness is gradually decreases 52.14 and 33.64 mg/l with increased dose (Table 2 and Figure 1and 4).

Iron:

Munaga seed powder removes iron from the iron contaminated water. After treatment 0.56 and 0.31 mg/l observed, which is under the permissible limit of drinking water (Table 2 and Figure 2 and 5).

Fluoride:

After treatment with Munaga seed powder of Mandakini river and Vaidehi pond water sample observed, decreases of fluoride content 1.5 and 1.0 mg/l that is under the limit of WHO standards (Table 2 and Figure 2 and 5).

Figure 1. Alkalinity, Chloride, Total hardness and Ca hardness concentration in Mandakini river at Arogyadham Ghat

Figure 2. Flouride and Iron concentration in Mandakini river at Arogyadham Ghat

Figure 3. Microbial load in Mandakini river at Arogyadham Ghat

Figure 4. Alkalinity, Chloride, Total hardness and Ca hardness concentration in Vaidehi pond water at Arogyadham

Figure 5. Flouride and Iron concentration in Vaidehi pond water at Arogyadham

Figure 6. Microbial load in Vaidehi pond water at Arogyadham

Table 3: Microbiological examination of water sample

S. No.	Microorganisms	Mandakini river water at Arogyadham Ghat		Vaidehi pond water at Arogyadham Parisar, DRI
S. No.	Microorganisms	Before Treatment	After Treatment	Before Treatment	After Treatment
1.	Salmonella Sp.	980 per ml	45 per ml	42 per ml	5 per ml
2.	E .coli	1103 per ml	8 per ml	210 per ml	10 per ml
3.	Total bacterial count (TBC)	1316 per ml	511 per ml	Uncountable	256 per ml
4.	Yeast and Mould	112 per ml	12 per ml	Uncountable	73 per ml
5.	Staphylococcus aureus	1052 per ml	13 per ml	102 per ml	20 per ml
6.	Pseudomonas aeruginosa	32 per ml	Uncountable	85 per ml	8 per ml

Microbial analysis:

Microbial count means microbial number which is calculated quantitatively. Due to high microbial load water samples are unsafe for drinking, washing and other purpose. The Moringa oleifera seed powder treatment had an added advantage of reducing microbial load (Table 3). After the treatment, the numbers of microbial colonies were reduced with increased dose of Munaga seed powder. After treatment it is found that the number of various microbes reduces like Salmonella Sp. (5 per ml), E .coli (10 per ml), Total bacterial count (256 per ml), Yeast and Mould (73 per ml), Staphylococcus aureus (20 per ml), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8 per ml) of Vaidehi pond water sample. It was also observed that the Moringa oleifera seed powder act as an antimicrobial agent against microorganisms identified the presence of an active antimicrobial agent in the M. oleifera seed (Figure 3 and 6).

CONCLUSION:

Moringa oleifera seeds acts as a natural coagulant, flocculant, absorbent for the treatment of polluted water. It reduces the total hardness, Turbidity, acidity, alkalinity, chloride. It also acts as a naturally occurring antimicrobial active agent against the microorganisms which are present in the drinking water and decrease the number of bacteria. If a combined dose of M. oleifera seed powder and chlorine can give best results and raw water can be used for drinking purpose. M. oleifera seed is not giving toxic effect. It is ecofriendly and cheaper method of water treatment. Munaga seeds can be used in the rural areas where no facilities are available for the drinking water treatment. After the treatment the sludge settled at the bottom of tank, can be used as bio-fertilizers is a added advantage of this method in rural areas. Further work recommended studying the efficiency of Munaga seed to kill pathogenic microorganisms that cause several health hazards in humans due to intake of contaminated water.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT:

Authors are thankful to the Vice- Chancellor of Awadhesh Pratap Singh University, Rewa (M.P.) and Shri Abhay Mahajan, Organizing Secretary, Deendayal Research Institute, Chitrakoot Satna (M.P.) for providing facilities to carry out this research work.

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Received on 19.11.2015 Modified on 08.12.2015

Research J. Science and Tech. 8(1): Jan.– Mar. 2016; Page 34-40

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2988.2016.00004.8