COMPARISON BETWEEN TREATMENT OF RIVER NILE WATER WITH ALUMINUM SULPHATE AND AQUEOUS MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED EXTRACT

Abstract

Aluminum sulphate (alum) is widely used water coagulant. The conventional methods used in water purification raises a lot of concerns over its environmental safety. So, this study aims to embrace new approaches for drinking water treatment. The use of environmental coagulants of plant origin is a conservational, significant potential and low cost method for water treatment. The competence of Moringa oleifera seed extract as a coagulant for conjugal water purification was investigated using the Jar Test and compared with alum as a control. Assessment of physicochemical and biological parameters was done for both raw and treated water. Consensuses of this study render that concentration of ammonia increased in the most purified water treated with Moringa extract. Turbidity, chlorides, iron, manganese, total algae count and total coliform were decreased in most concentrations. These findings suggested that Moringa can be used as a biocoagulant for water treatment. While, it is favorable instead of using the seed powders for water clarification; one could use only the driven water soluble proteins that extracted from the Moringa seeds. These proteins are more resourceful in ammonia and nitrates exclusion which increased in the water samples treated with Moringa seeds.