3. MORINGA OLEIFERA SEEDS
INTRODUCTION
Moringa Oleifera, often referred to as the “miracle tree,” is a plant species that is
native to Asia, Africa, and South America. It is renowned for its nutritional and
medicinal properties.
Water Crisis: With 1 in 3 people globally still lacking access to safe drinking water,
the need for efficient and accessible water purification methods is more critical than
ever.
Moringa Oleifera in Water Purification: The seeds of the Moringa Oleifera tree have
unique water purification properties. The seed extract can separate unwanted
particulates from water, sedimenting impurities, and has potential as an anti-microbial
treatment.
Procedure: The process involves allowing the Moringa seed pods to dry naturally on
the tree, removing the seed husks, crushing the seed kernels to a powder, and mixing
the powder with water. The powder acts as a coagulant, binding colloidal particles and
bacteria to form agglomerated particles (flocs), which settle, allowing the clarified
supernatant to be poured off.
Significance: This method of water purification is not only effective but also
sustainable and low-cost, making it a promising solution for providing clean water to
small communities in developing countries where Moringa grows.
4. 4
LITERATURE REVIEW
Moringa Oleifera’s Role in Water Purification: Moringa Oleifera seeds have been recognized for
their water purification properties. The seed extract can separate unwanted particulates from water,
sedimenting impurities, and has potential as an anti-microbial treatment.
Effectiveness of Moringa Oleifera Seeds: Research has confirmed the effectiveness of powder
extracted from mature-dried Moringa Oleifera seeds in treating river water. The 12 g/L treatment of
Moringa and 10 and 12 g/L alum treatments gave values that are acceptable according to the World
Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for safe drinking water.
Optimum Dosage: The optimum dosage of Moringa Oleifera seed powder for domestic water
purification was observed to be at 90mg/L.
Community Perception and Usage: People are aware of the fact that water can transmit diseases and
some respondents declared they use traditional methods such as boiling and bleach to treat water before
drinking. However, people demonstrated a strong belief in the capacity of Moringa-teabags to purify
water and even consider them better or much better than other methods.
Comparison with Other Local Seeds: A comparison with other local seeds such as peanuts (Arachis
hypogaea), cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata), urad (Vigna mungo) and corn (Zea mays) for their
effectiveness in water clarification as natural coagulants in water treatment in the South Pacific was
reported.
8. Study area:
TERI SAS New Delhi
Source of water sample is bore well
Jar test assembly pH meter
8
9. RESULT and Discussion
Parameter
Sample
Raw A B C D
Alkalinity (mg/l as CaCo3) 400 370 440 450 460
Hardness (mg/l as CaCo3) 550 500 450 430 420
Calcium hardness (mg/l as CaCo3) 220 250 200 200 200
Chloride (mg/l) 314.9 214.9 299.9 309.9 314.9
Turbidity (NTU) 0 9 25 19 26.1
TDS (mg/l) 1306 1232 1270 1285 1307
TSS (mg/l) 1 6 11 11 40
ph 7.56 7.92 7.89 7.88 7.88
EC (mS/cm) 1.382 1.522 1.518 1.504 1.493
Sample A B C D
Stock solution 10 ml 20 ml 30 ml 40 ml
9
10. RESULT and Discussion
Analysis of alkalinity of water samples
• From the results, maximum alkalinity reading was seen in D
sample and minimum was seen in A sample
• Maximum reduction of alkalinty was seen in sample A (10 ml
Stock solution)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Raw A B C D
Sample
Alkalinity (mg/l as CaCo3)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
Raw A B C D
Sample
Hardness (mg/l as CaCo3)
Analysis of hardness of water samples
• Effect of increasing the volume of stock solution in the
samples respectively showed the decrease in the hardness
of the sample.
10
11. RESULT and Discussion
Analysis of calcium hardness water samples
• Calcium hardness was seen higher in sample A and the calcium
hardness level decreased with increase in volume of stock
solution and remained same.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
Raw A B C D
Sample
Calcium hardness (mg/l as CaCo3)
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Raw A B C D
Sample
Chloride (mg/l)
Analysis of Chloride of water samples
•Chloride concentration was seen similar in raw sample and
sample D.
•Meanwhile, with the increase in volume of stock solution
used chloride concentration increased.
11
12. RESULT and Discussion
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Raw A B C D
Sample
Turbidity (NTU)
Analysis of turbidity of water samples
•In the raw sample turbidity was zero
•Increase in turbidity was seen in sample B and D.
1180
1200
1220
1240
1260
1280
1300
1320
Raw A B C D
Sample
TDS (mg/l)
Analysis of total dissolved solids of water samples
•From the above results, TDS was found to be similar in
raw sample and sample D.
•TDS was found to increase with increase in the volume of
stock solution used.
12
13. RESULT and Discussion
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Raw A B C D
Sample
TSS (mg/l)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Raw A B C D
Sample
pH
Analysis of total suspended solids of water samples
•Trend of TSS increased from raw sample to sample D
Analysis of pH of water samples
•pH of sample with different volume of stock solution
showed a slight increase in pH of the raw sample.
13
14. RESULT and Discussion
Analysis of electrical conductivity of water samples
• EC was seen minimum in raw water sample and the reading
decreased with the increase in volume off stock solution.
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
1.6
Raw A B C D
Sample
EC mS/cm
From the above results we can infer that better results were
obtained when lower volume of stock solution i.e, 10 ml
(sample A) was used.
More better results could be obtained if volume used is less
than 10 ml??
14
15. Moringa Oleifera seeds acts as a natural coagulant, flocculent, absorbent for the
treatment of ground water.
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.
Moringa Oleifera seed is not giving toxic effect. It is eco-friendly and cheaper method
of water treatment.
Moringa seeds can be used in the rural areas where no facilities are available for the
drinking water treatment.
Using lower volume of stock solution i.e, 1 ml, 2 ml,…. might give us better results
whch could not be performed because of time constraint.
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Conclusion
