A Review of the Applications of Moringa oleifera Seeds Extract in Water Treatment

Abstract

Moringa oleifera is a single family of shrubs and trees that is cultivated in the whole of tropical belt. It belongs to the family Moringaceae and is one of the 14 known species. The tree has been described as a multi-purpose tree for life. It has, in recent times, been advocated as an outstanding indigenous source of highly digestible protein, Ca, Fe, Vitamin C, and carotenoids suitable for utilization in many of the developing regions of the world where undernourishment is a major concern. The seeds are eaten green, roasted, powdered and steeped for tea or used in curries. It has found applications in medicinal uses, as cosmetics, in food supplements, and in water treatment. One of the active ingredients in the M. oleifera seed has been identified as a polyelectrolyte. Its use for coagulation, co-coagulation, or coagulant aid has been a subject of investigation in many parts of the world. Softening of water with M. oleifera has also been identified to have potential advantage since it is accompanied by very low reduction in alkalinity, which is required to provide the necessary buffering capacity to achieve required treatment objectives. Many researchers have also identified the presence of an active antimicrobial agent in Moringa oleifera seeds. This paper presents a review of these various applications of M. oleifera seeds extract in water treatment and highlights the areas requiring further investigations.

Key words: Moringa oleifera, seeds extract, water coagulation, softening, disinfection.