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QUENCHING THE THIRST OF MILLIONS IN THE WORLD- APPLICATION OF

PROCESSED MORINGA OLEIFERA SEEDS IN DRINKING WATER TREATMENT

SULEYMAN AREMU MUYIBIEmail:

engrmuyibi@yahoo.comBioenvironmental Engineering Research Unit

(BERU)Department of Biotechnology Engineering

Faculty of EngineeringInternational Islamic University Malaysia

November 2005

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CONTENT OF PRESENTATION

INTRODUCTION WATER TREATMENT- OVERVIEW WATER TREATMENT PROBLEMS CHEMICALS USED IN SURFACE

WATER TREATMENT PROBLEMS FACED IN USE OF

CHEMICAL COAGULANTS PROPOSED SOLUTION –

MORINGA OLEIFERA SEEDS MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED

PROCESSING TECHNIQUES APPLICATION OF PROCESSED

SEEDS IN TREATMENT OF SURFACE WATER

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INTRODUCTION

Drinking water which should be palatable and potable is essential to the health and welfare of a community and water from all sources must have some form of purification before consumption.

About 1.2 billion people still lack safe drinking water and more than 6 million children die from diarrhea in developing countries every year.

Water borne diseases still kill on the average 25,000 people every day in developing countries while millions suffer the debilitating effects of these diseases.

About 75% of the present world population live in the developing countries of the world.

About 80 % of all illnesses in developing countries are water related e.g. cholera, dysentery, diarrhea etc.

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WATER TREATMENT OVERVIEW

Various methods are used to make water safe and attractive to the consumer.

The method employed depends on the character and source of the raw water e.g. surface water, groundwater.

For surface water, coagulation-flocculation followed by sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, often by chlorine, is used worldwide in the water treatment industry before distribution of the treated water to consumers.

Groundwater if too hard will have to be softened by using lime, soda ash, ion-exchange etc. to treat it.

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WATER TREATMENT PROBLEMS

Water treatment companies in in developing countries face a myriad of problems

Some of these are: Large seasonal variation in raw water quality e.g.

turbidity. Water treatment chemicals are imported with

scarce foreign currency. High cost of water treatment chemicals which

constitute between 35% to 70% of recurrent expenditure.

Inadequate supply of chemicals for water treatment Inadequate laboratory facilities to monitor process

performances required to operate the plants. Inadequate funding Low revenue base Water supply considered as a social commodity

rather than an economic resource Inadequate skilled manpower, Poor operational and maintenance schedules, Adoption of inappropriate technology. Inadequate supply to meet growing demand Underdosing of chemicals leading supply of poor

quality water.

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CHEMICALS USED IN SURFACE WATER TREATMENT

Coagulants: Many coagulants are widely used in conventional

water treatment processes for turbidity removal. These coagulants can be classified into:

Inorganic coagulant: such as Aluminium sulphate (alum) “PAC” (poly-aluminum chloride), Poly-aluminum silico sulphate (PASS), Ferric Chloride.

Synthetic organic polymers: poly-electrolytes are used as primary coagulant as well as coagulant aids to improve the strength of particle aggregates, enhance coagulation and deposition.

Natural coagulants / flocculants. Alkalinity and pH correctants:

Calcium hydroxide( slaked lime) Sodium Carbonate (soda ash)

Disinfectants: Chlorine compounds e.g Calcium hypo chloride, chloride gas, sodium hypo chloride , ozone, chlorine dioxide etc.

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PROBLEMS FACED IN THE USE OF CHEMICAL COAGULANTS

Potential health and environmental problems in the use of chemical coagulants.

Aluminum has also been indicated to be a causative agent in neurological diseases such as pre-senile dementia

There is a fear that ingestion of aluminum ions may induce Alzheimer’s disease

Sludge produced are voluminous and non-biodegradable after treatment and therefore poses disposal problems leading to increase cost of treatment.

The costs of these chemicals has been increasing at an alarming rate in developing countries.

Most of the water treatment companies cannot cope with the high costs due to declining revenues and funding

The inability of local supplies to satisfy the demand due to competing uses.

Foreign exchange problem for imported chemicals.

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PROBLEMS FACED IN THE USE OF CHEMICAL

COAGULANTS

There is also the problem of reaction of alum with natural alkalinity present in water leading to reduction of pH and a low efficiency in coagulation of cold waters.

Under-dosing of chemicals so as to meet the increasing water demand leading to production of poor quality drinking water.

Using alum as well as other metallic salt coagulants produces large sludge volumes which are also non-biodegradable.

Ferric salts and synthetic polymers have also been used as coagulants but with limited success because of the same disadvantages manifested in the use of aluminum salts

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PROPOSED SOLUTION MORINGA OLEIFERA

SEEDS Naturally occurring coagulants are usually presumed

safe for human health. Some studies on natural coagulants have been carried

out and various natural coagulants were produced or extracted from microorganisms, animals or plants.

One of these alternatives is Moringa oleifera seeds. It is a native tree of the sub-Himalayan parts of

Northwest India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is now widely cultivated across Africa e.g. Nigeria,

Niger, Malawi, Tanzania etc. South America, most part of South – East Asia for example, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippine, Cambodia, Middle East, Central America, and The Caribbean islands.

The traditional use of the Moringa oleifera seeds for domestic household water treatment is limited to certain rural areas in the Sudan.

Moringa oleifera is a perfect example of a so-called “multipurpose tree”

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MORINGA OLEIFERA TREE WITH FULLY GROWN RIPE

SEED PODS

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Moringa Oleifera seed pods & dry seeds

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Moringa oleifera multipurpose uses

Ground Seed Cake as coagulant - flocculant in water treatment

Oil from seeds Fencing of

property

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MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

LOW TECHNOLOGY

MEDIUM TECHNOLOGY

HIGH TECHNOLOGY

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MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

LOW TECHNOLOGY

Suitable for households to small community water supplies.

Production of biocompost/ bio-fertilizer from sludge produced after treatment

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LOW TECHNOLOGYSEED PROCESSING

REMOVE DRY SEED FROM PODS AND SHELL

(DEHAULING PROCESS)

GRIND SEED TO A VERY FINE POWDER

PACK POWDER IN A PLASTIC BAG AND SEAL TO KEEP IT AIRTIGHT

STORE IN A DRY PLACE UNTIL WHEN NEEDED

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MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

MEDIUM TECHNOLOGY

SUITABLE FOR MEDIUM TO LARGE COMMUNITIES

USEFUL BY PRODUCTS FROM PROCESSING e.g. edible oil, activated carbon from husk and seed shell, bio-fertilizer / biocompost from sludge after treatment, etc.

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MEDIUM TECHNOLOGYSEED PROCESSING

DEHAUL DRY SEEDS

EXTRACT OIL FROM POWDERUSING COLD PRESS,

ORGANIC SOLVENTS, STEAM ETC

DRY POWDER (residue) TO REMOVEALL TRACES OF SOLVENT OR MOISTURE

PACK POWDER IN A PLASTIC BAG AND SEAL TO KEEP IT AIRTIGHT

STORE IN A DRY PLACE UNTIL WHEN NEEDED

Process Oil For use

Convert seed Husk, pods etcTo Activated

Carbon, fuel for Steam production etc

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MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED PROCESSING TECHNIQUES

HIGH TECHNOLOGY SEED PROCESSING

Suitable for medium to large scale applications.

Have high shelf life Large scale production for export to

other countries. Efficient in the treatment of raw

water with diverse characteristics. Low dosage applications. Many useful byproducts e.g. oil,

poultry and livestock feed, bio-fertilizer etc.

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HIGH TECHNOLOGY SEED PROCESSING

DEHUSK DRY SEEDS

EXTRACT OILENZYME ASSISTED/

SOLVENT/ COLD PRESS ETC.

EXTRACT BIO-FLOCCULANTSION-EXCHANGE, ULTRAFILTRATION

CROSSFLOW MICROFILTRATION,

PACKAGINGLIQUID FORM OR

SOLID( FREEZE DRYING, CENTRIFUGE& DRYING)

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APPLICATION IN WATER TREATMENT

Household and Community Level water treatment units.

Treatment Unit operations and processes. Manual of operation required for dosing, filter

cleaning and maintenance etc. Use Moringa oleifera seed processed with low

technology

COAGULATION-FLOCCULATION

COAGULANT DOSING

FILTRATIONSLOW SAND FILTERS

STORAGE AND

DISTRIBUTION FOR USE

SLUDGE MIXEDWITH AGRO-WASTE

BIOCOMPOST

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APPLICATION IN WATER TREATMENT

LARGE SCALE

Application areas: Existing conventional water treatment

plants with slight modifications. New water treatment plants. Use processed Moringa seed from

medium technology or high technology. Provide manual of operation for dosing,

filter maintenance etc.

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APPLICATION IN LARGE SCALE CONVENTIONAL WATER

TREATMENT Existing Water Treatment Plants

COAGULATIONRAPID MIXING

COAGULANT DOSING

FLOCCULATIONSLOW MIXING

SEDIMENTATION

FILTRATION(RAPID SAND)

DISINFECTION, STORAGEDISTRIBUTION

SLUDGETREATMENTConvert To Bio-Compost

Soil Conditioner etc.

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APPLICATION IN LARGE SCALE CONVENTIONAL

WATER TREATMENT

Application in new water treatment plants. Requires design and operation

modification

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APPLICATION IN NEW LARGE SCALE WATER TREATMENT

OPTION A: RAPID SAND FILTERS Coagulant Dosing

COAGULATION

FLOCCULATION

DIRECT FILTRATIONRapid sand Filters

DISINFECTIONSTORAGE

DISTRIBUTION

SLUDGE TREATMENTBio-compost

Soil conditioner

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APPLICATION IN NEW LARGE SCALE WATER TREATMENT

OPTION B: SLOW SAND FILTERS

COAGULATION

Coagulant Dosing

DIRECT FILTRATIONSLOW SAND FILTER

DISINFECTIONSTORAGE

DISTRIBUTION

Filter CleaningSand replacementSludge disposal

Biocompost, soil conditioner

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RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR

IMPLEMENTATION Formation of Multi - disciplinary project groups.

Environmental Engineers/Scientists, Water resources engineers/scientists , water utility company officials: Introduction of technology and modalities for adoption

Agricultural experts ( agriculturists, extension experts, engineers): Cultivation techniques of Moringa trees and harvesting on a large scale

Processing industries e.g. food processing, seed oil processing etc: for processing of seeds.

NGOs involved in water related projects Funding by the relevant authorities for the

design , fabrication, and commissioning of pilot scale water treatment plants.

Demonstration and Training of water treatment plant operators, NGOs involved in community based water supply projects.

Preparation of design and operation manuals for seed processing and application techniques in water treatment.

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RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES FOR

IMPLEMENTATION (contd.)

Organise workshops and seminars for transfer of technology in the following areas. Cultivation of Moringa oleifera trees,

harvesting of dried seeds Processing techniques of the seeds for

application in water treatment Application of the processed seed in

water treatment Public campaign and enlightenment on the

novel technology to encourage. Large scale cultivation of Moringa oleifera

trees as cash crop. Application in small scale DIY drinking

water treatment especially in rural areas. Network and cooperation with

relevant local and international institutions.

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RESEARCH DIRECTION ON MORINGA OLEIFERA SEED FOR APPLICATION IN

WATER TREATMENT AND WATER POLLUTION CONTROL

Development of economical and commercial processing techniques of Moringa oleifera seeds i.e medium and high technology methods.

Oil extraction( mechanical press, solvent extration, steam extraction, enzyme assisted extraction etc.) as value added product.

Seed husk, pods etc. as raw material for biocoversion into biocompost, bioalcohol etc.

Processing of cake for application in water treatment and water pollution control after oil extraction Membrane separation techniques e.g.

ultrafiltration, cross-flow microfiltration etc. Centrifugation , freeze-drying Ion exchange etc.

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Research Direction on Moringa Oleifera seed Application in Water Treatment and Water Pollution Control by the Bioenvironmental Research Unit (BERU) at the International Islamic University Malaysia To isolate and purify the bioactive constituents in

Moringa Oleifera seeds. To characterize the molecular structure, formula,

weight, and charge of the isolated bioactive constituents.

To carry out detailed studies on the bioactive constituents to determine possible positive synergistic effects in the combination of isolates on application in water (for potable use) and wastewater (industrial and municipal) treatment for water pollution control (surface and groundwater).

To produce samples of the best combination of isolate of the bioactive constituents.

To develop commercially viable, ( recovery of value added products e.g. oil, biocompost, biofuel) sustainable, and efficient seed processing techniques.

To develop user-friendly and appropriate technology techniques for application of processed Moringa Oleifera seeds for water treatment and water pollution control in developing countries