Analysis of particle size influence of moringa oleifera seed on its performance as coagulant in sustainable water treatment

Department of Civil Engineering, Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Nigeria

^* Corresponding author: u.idiok@topfaith.edu.ng

Abstract

Provision of sustainable potable water still poses challenges in less privileged countries. Therefore, this study analyzes the influence of six different particle size (2.0 mm, 1.18 mm, 850μm, 600μm, 425μm, and 300μm) of M. oleifera seeds on coagulating surface water obtained from Ezu River, Nigeria. M. oleifera seed samples were extracted using ethanol as a solvent following oil removal by soxhlet extraction method, and added at optimal dose (1g/L). The coagulation performance was determined using jar tests and measured based on percentage decreases in turbidity, and removals in chlorides, Total hardness, alkalinity, pH, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Total Solids (TS), Total Dissolved solids (TDS), temperature, and sulfates. The 600μm-size M. oleifera particles were seen to display maximum coagulation efficacy measured as (91%), achieving maximum removals for TS (1174-407mg/L), TSS (533-206mg/L), TDS (641-201mg/L), Chlorides (29.07-0.58mg/L), alkalinity (105-4.20mg/L), sulfates (900-9mg/L), and total hardness (136-2mg/L); all showing levels below WHO guidelines for drinking water, except for turbidity. Water pH values ranging from 6.5-8.5 and temperatures ranging from 27-30°C satisfied water chemistry standards at optimal levels. Statistically, result revealed variable treatment efficacy among M. oleifera size samples with significantly different particle size influencing purification efficacy (p < 0.05). As such, efforts towards achieving the sustainable development goal 6, can be facilitated using optimal Moringa oleifera seed size of 600μm in water purification.