Development of a naturally derived coagulant for water and wastewater treatment

Seeds of the pan tropical tree, Moringa oleifera Lam. (M. oleifera) contain water soluble, positively charged proteins that act as an effective coagulant (molecular weight 13 kDa and isoelectric pH 10-11). Treatment studies are reviewed using the extracts of the crushed seed kernel and of the presscake (solids residue remaining after oil extraction). M. oleifera seed was incorporated into a pilot scale treatment system as a primary coagulant to clarify river water of 400 NTU in the wet season. Over 90% turbidity removal was achieved in the sedimentation stage at a dosage of 100 mgL^-1. The filtrate turbidity was maintained well below 5 NTU. Subsequent trials were conducted in an adjacent works operating at 60 m³h^-1. Treatment performance was comparable to that of using aluminium sulphate. Inlet turbidities of 270-380 NTU were consistently reduced to below 4 NTU. A comprehensive study was undertaken to evaluate the potential of using M. oleifera coagulant within a contact flocculation filtration (CFF) pilot rig. A wide range of operating conditions was evaluated in order to establish the useful “working envelope” for this process combination (filtration rates 5-20 mh^-1, initial turbidities 20-50 NTU). Principal results are presented. As a coagulant within chemically enhanced primary sedimentation (CEPS) of a mixed wastewater, M. oleifera dosed at 150 mgL-1 gave additional removals (compared to a plain sedimentation control) of 40% biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) and in excess of 80% for suspended solids (SS). Subsequent laboratory work coupled an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) to CEPS. M. oleifera coagulant in the CEPS pre-treatment unit beneficially increased the ratio of soluble COD to volatile SS by a factor of ten compared to plain sedimentation and by a factor of three when dosing ferric chloride. The UASB yielded more biogas and gave enhanced COD removal. Recent work on the extraction and purification of the active coagulant components is reviewed and the prospects for commercialisation are considered.