Use of Moringa Oleifera Seeds in the Treatment of Turbid Water, Collected Directly from the Búzi River for Human Consumption

Abstract

Potable water can be defined as water suitable for consumption, that is, free of substances and organisms that can cause diseases, 1 and also without color, taste, or odor. The turbidity of water bodies can be caused by the erosion of river banks during the rainy season, resulting from the misuse of the soil, such as the lack of vegetation fixation. Sanitary sewage and various industrial effluents and mining activities also cause increases in water turbidity. One of the great challenges for the scientific community is to seek methodological processes that reduce the impact on the environment. Moringa oleifera seeds contain low molecular weight proteins, which, when their powder is dissolved in water, acquire positive charges that attract negatively charged particles such as clays and silts, forming dense flocs that sediment. In this context, the study aimed to evaluate the ideal amount of Moringa oleifera seed powder and the best sedimentation time for the removal of turbidity and its effect on the pH of water from the Búzi River consumed by the population of regions whose only source of acquisition of the precious liquid are rivers. The experiment was carried out with 50, 100, 150, and 250 mg of powder/500 mL and another 500 mL of water to which no Moringa powder was added. The research results show a reduction of up to 95% in turbidity at a concentration of 50 mg, as well as optimization of pH.