Development of a low tech alternative water purification technology using moringa oleifera seed as coagulant and activated carbon produced from its seed pods, shells and stems as filter and disinfectant

Abstract

Access to potable water remains a pressing challenge in many developing regions, with Nigeria’s Kogi State exemplifying this crisis where approximately 50% of the population lacks reliable access to clean drinking water. This study presents a novel low cost water purification technology that combines protein based coagulation from Moringa oleifera seeds with filtration and disinfection using activated carbon derived from the plant’s agricultural waste materials. We employed microwave assisted activation using M. oleifera leaf extract as a chemical activator, representing a significant departure from conventional expensive activators such as KOH or NaOH. Salt and water extraction methods yielded coagulant proteins with distinct performance characteristics, with salt extraction demonstrating superior turbidity reduction (97.3% versus 89.6% for water extraction at optimal dosages). The activated carbons produced from seed pods, shells, and stems exhibited remarkable surface areas ranging from 847 to 1,164 m2/g, with mixed precursors achieving the highest porosity. When integrated into a bucket based filtration system and tested with River Niger water samples, the complete treatment chain reduced turbidity from 287 NTU to below 5 NTU, eliminated E. coli and total coliforms, and produced water meeting WHO drinking water standards. The technology demonstrated mechanical stability over 60 treatment cycles, with activated carbon pellets maintaining structural integrity and adsorption capacity above 85% of initial values. Economic analysis revealed a treatment cost of approximately 0.076 per litre, substantially lower than commercial alternatives. This integrated approach offers a sustainable, locally adaptable solution for water stressed communities throughout Sub Saharan Africa and similar contexts globally.