Moringa oleifera as a Natural

Coagulant for Treating

Wastewater and River Water

Christian R. Orozco*, Janela Manalang, Robel Villaos

and Augustus C. Resurreccion
Assistant Professor, Institute of Civil Engineering
University of the Philippines Diliman

Executive Secretary, American Concrete Institute Philippines

Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers 43rd National Convention

November 30, 2017 Mall of Asia Arena, Mall of Asia Pasay City
You can last weeks without food, but
only days without water
#WATERisHEALTH
Sources of Water
Surface Water Groundwater
Water Trails
Water Trails
Water Treatment Process
Coagulation
Destabilization of colloids

What are colloids? Particles that are too small to

be removed by sedimentation in a reasonable
time period, and are too small to be trapped in
the pores of a filter
How do we remove colloids?
• Destabilize the colloids by neutralizing the
negative charge that causes electrostatic
repulsion
• Coagulation: to alter the colloids, so that they
can adhere to each other, by adding positive
ions

• Three key properties of coagulant:

• trivalent cation (Al3+ and Fe3+)
• nontoxic
• insoluble in neutral pH range
Coagulation – Flocculation
– Sedimentation
 Coagulation
It is an integral part of the water treatment
process

Its primary goal is turbidity

removal

Types of coagulants:
Inorganic coagulants (chemical coagulants)
Synthetic organic polymers
Naturally occurring coagulants
 Aluminum sulfate
(+)
Exhibits most effective coagulation
results

(-)
May induce Alzheimer’s disease
Reacts with alkalinity and reduces pH
Produces large sludge volume
Moringa oleifera aka
“Malunggay”
M. oleifera seeds
 Moringa oleifera
Most studied and most effective natural
coagulant

(+)
As effective as alum
Presumed safe for human health
Environment friendly
Toxic-free
Sludge production is 5 times lower than alum
Locally available in the Philippines
Does not reduce pH
 Objectives
Effectiveness of M. oleifera seeds as a natural coagulant
and as compared to alum
*
Most effective method of extracting the active coagulating
agent in M. oleifera
*
Total suspended solids and turbidity removal efficiency of
M. oleifera
*
Effect of M. oleifera on pH, Biochemical Oxygen Demand
(BOD), Sludge Volume Index (SVI) of the water sample
METHODOLOGY
 Collection of water samples

Sewage Treatment Marikina

River
Preparation of the M. oleifera seeds

Removal of
coat and wings

Powdered Sieving
M. oleifera Pulverization
(250 μm sieve)
Extraction of the active components

5g 100 ml
distilled
water

5g
100 ml
1 M NaCl

Mixing
Filtering
(30 minutes)
5g 100 ml
1 M NaOH
 Using alum

5g
100 ml
distilled Dilution
water
 Execution of Jar Tests

Four 1-liter beakers filled with 1 liter of water sample

Turbidity: 35-69 FAU
TSS: 134-199 mg/L
Execution of Jar Tests

0 ml 5 ml 10 ml 15 ml

Rapid mixing – 100 rpm for 2 minutes

Execution of Jar Tests

Slow mixing – 40 rpm for 20 minutes

Timelapse
 Sedimentation

Turbidity/TSS
measurement
pH measurement
Hach DR900 Multiparameter Hach HQ11d Portable pH/ORP
Portable Colorimeter Meter
RESULTS AND
DISCUSSION
 Comparison of the Effectiveness of M. oleifera Against
Aluminum Sulfate (River Water)
100% 100%
92%
90%
84% 82%
80%
Turbidity Removal Efficiency (%)

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
5 10 15
Dosage (ml)

M. oleifera in Distilled Water M. oleifera in NaCl

M. oleifera in NaOH Aluminum Sulfate
 Comparison of the Effectiveness of M. oleifera Against
Aluminum Sulfate (River Water)
100% 100%

90%
92%
84% 82%
80%
Turbidity Removal Efficiency (%)

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
5 10 15
Dosage (ml)
M. oleifera in Distilled Water M. oleifera in NaCl
8%
difference
M. oleifera in NaOH Aluminum Sulfate
 Comparison of the Effectiveness of M. oleifera Against
Aluminum Sulfate (River Water)
100% 98%
95%
90%

80%
TSS Removal Efficiency (%)

70%

60% 58%

50%

40%

30%

20% 16%
10%

0%
5 10 15
Dosage (ml)
M. oleifera in Distilled Water M. oleifera in NaCl
M. oleifera in NaOH Aluminum Sulfate
 Comparison of the Effectiveness of M. oleifera Against
Aluminum Sulfate (Wastewater)
100% 98%
95%
90%

80%
TSS Removal Efficiency (%)

70%

60%
58%

50%

40%

30%

20%
16%

10%

0%
5 10 15
Dosage (ml) 3%
M. oleifera in Distilled Water M. oleifera in NaCl
difference
M. oleifera in NaOH Aluminum Sulfate
 Comparison of the Effect of M. oleifera and Aluminum
Sulfate on pH of River water
11

10

8
pH

3
0 5 10 15
Dosage (ml)
 Comparison of the Effect of M. oleifera and Aluminum
Sulfate on pH of River Water
11

10

8 No coagulants
Treated w/ M. oleifera in
(6.5-6.9)
NaOH (9.6-10.8)
pH

4 Treated w/ M. oleifera in
Distilled Water and NaCl (6.5-
3 6.7)
0 5 10 15
Dosage (ml)
 Comparison of the Effect of M. oleifera and Aluminum
Sulfate on pH of River Water
11

10

9
Treated w/ Aluminum
8 No Sulfate (3.8-6.2)
coagulants
pH

7 (6.5-6.9)
6

3
0 5 10 15
Dosage (ml)
 Comparison of the Effect of M. oleifera and Aluminum
Sulfate on pH of Wastewater
11

10

9
pH

5
0 5 10 15
Dosage
 Comparison of the Effect of M. oleifera and Aluminum
Sulfate on pH of Wastewater
11

No
10
coagulant
s
9 (6.5-6.8)
pH

8
Treated w/ M. oleifera
in NaOH (7.5-10)
7

6
Treated w/ M. oleifera in
5 Distilled Water and NaCl
0 (6.5-6.6)
5 10 15
Dosage
 Comparison of the Effect of M. oleifera and Aluminum
Sulfate on pH of Wastewater
11

No
10 coagulants
(6.5-6.8)
9
pH

8
Treated w/ Aluminum Sulfate
(5.3-6.5)
7

5
0 5 10 15
Dosage
 Sludge Volume Index
SVI of Wastewater when Treated with M. oleifera
Extracted by NaCl

SV30 (ml/L) 30

MLSS (mg/L) 240

SVI 125
SVI Range Type:
50-150  good sludge
151-175  average sludge
176-above  bad sludge
CONCLUSION
 Conclusions
M. oleifera is indeed effective and promising as a
coagulant
92% turbidity removal efficiency (river water)
95% TSS removal efficiency (wastewater)
*
Minimal difference with Aluminum sulfate
*
The most effective method of extracting is using NaCl
*
Does not affect pH
No significant change in BOD of wastewater (9%)
Produces good sludge (SVI – 125)
REFERENCES
 References
1. Aho, I. And Lagasi, J. (2012). A new water treatment system using Moringa oleifera seed. American Journal Of
Scientific And Industrial Research, 3(6), pp.487-492.
2. Ali, E., Muyibi, S., Salleh, H., Alam, M. And Salleh, M. (2010). Production of Natural Coagulant from Moringa
Oleifera Seed for Application in Treatment of Low Turbidity Water. J. Water Resource and Protection, 2, pp.259-
266.
3. Ali, E., Muyibi, S., Salleh, H., Salleh, M. And Alam, M. (2009). Moringa Oleifera Seeds As Natural Coagulant For
Water Treatment. Thirteenth International Water Technology Conference, 13, pp.163-168.
4. Folkard, G., Sutherland, J. And Shaw, R. (2017). Water clarification using Moringa oleifera seed coagulant.
[online] Water And Environmental Health At London And Loughborough. Available at:
http://www.lboro.ac.uk/well/resources/technical-briefs/60-water-clarification-using-moringa-oleifera-seeds.pdf
[Accessed 21 May 2017].
5. Geronimo, G. (2015). Indigenous vegetables used in school feeding project. [online] Region4a.dost.gov.ph.
Available at: http://region4a.dost.gov.ph/news/714-indigenous-vegetables-used-in-school-feeding-project
[Accessed 16 May 2017].
6. Muthuraman, G. And Sasikala, S. (2014). Removal of turbidity from drinking water using natural coagulants.
Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, 20, pp.1727-1731.
7. Ndabigengesere, A. And Narasiah, K. (1998). Quality Of Water Treated By Coagulation Using Moringa Oleifera
Seeds. Water Resources, 32(3), pp.781-791.
8. Okuda, T., Baes, A., Nishijima, W. And Okada, M. (1999). Improvement Of Extraction Method Of Coagulation
Active Components From Moringa Oleifera Seed. Water Resources, 33(15), pp.3373-3378.
9. Oladoja, N. (2015). Headway on natural polymeric coagulants in water and wastewater treatment operations.
Journal of Water Process Engineering, 6, pp.174-192.
10. Orozco, C. (2016). CE 132: Sanitary Engineering 1 Lecture 3 - Water Treatment.
11. Shan, T., Matar, M., Makky, E. And Ali, E. (2016). The use of Moringa oleifera seed as a natural coagulant for
wastewater treatment and heavy metals removal. Applied Water Science, 7(3), pp.1369-1376.
12. Yin, C. (2010). Emerging usage of plant-based coagulants for water and wastewater treatment. Process
Biochemistry, 45, pp.1437-1444.
THANK YOU! 