Moringa oleifera and ceramic filters for escherichia coli and turbidity removal from drinking water.

Abstract

Porous ceramic filters were prepared by incorporating burnout material into the clay and their efficiency in removal of turbidity and Escherichia coli tested. Moringa oleifera seeds were also tested for their biocoagulant and phytodisinfectant ability in purifying water. The filters reduced E. coli from 390±10 CFU/ml to 0.00 - 0.03 CFU/ml corresponding to an efficiency range of 99.1 to 100%. Turbidity reduced from 64.13±0.75 NTU to 0.92-1.77 NTU equivalent to 97.2 - 98.6% reduction. M. oleifera seeds reduced turbidity of artificially turbid at 100 NTU to 0.83 NTU corresponding to a 99.2 %. With naturally occurring turbid water at initial turbidity of 22.2 NTU, the residue turbidity was 4.02 NTU indicating lower removal efficacy. 1g/l of the seeds reduced E. coli load from 260 CFU/ml to 14.5 CFU/ml equivalent to 94.4% removal. De-oiling the seeds and using the seed cake residue showed similar efficiency in turbidity removal.