MORINGA OLEIFERA AS A NATURAL COAGULANT-FLOCCULANT FOR THE REMOVAL OF TURBIDITY AND HEAVY METALS FROM THE CAPLINA CHANNEL

Abstract

In water treatment, the high costs of chemical coagulants, the waste they generate, and their negative impacts on human health have prompted the present research in search of a more environmentally and socially friendly alternative. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of Moringa oleifera as a natural coagulant-flocculant for the removal of turbidity and heavy metals from Caplina Channel water. Raw water samples were collected from the Caplina Channel in Tacna. Moringa oleifera seed powder was prepared after pretreatment with 1 M sodium chloride. This water was treated with different doses (125, 250, 500, and 750 mg/L) of the natural coagulant-flocculant. A proximate analysis of Moringa oleifera seeds was performed. For Caplina Channel water, the effects of Moringa oleifera coagulant-flocculant doses on turbidity and electrical conductivity were assessed, and the following parameters were determined: dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, color, arsenic, copper, and iron. After treatment, the results of the physicochemical analysis for the best dose were as follows: turbidity 9.045 NTU; pH 5.5; electrical conductivity 936 µS/cm; dissolved oxygen 7.24 mg/L; total dissolved solids 762 mg/L; colour <5 Pt/Co; arsenic 0.005 mg/L; copper 0.045 mg/L; and iron <0.3 mg/L. It is concluded that Moringa oleifera seed powder pretreated with a 1 M sodium chloride solution is effective for the removal of turbidity and heavy metals from Caplina Channel water.