Coagulation and disinfection in water treatment using <i>Moringa</i>

Abstract

A low-cost technology for drinking water purification involving plant extracts that are harmful to potentially pathogenic bacteria was developed. The methanolic and aqueous extracts of different parts of the Moringa oleifera vegetable tree were examined for their antibacterial and coagulation properties. The extracts from buds and shoots showed more antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus var. mycoides, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia and Shigella flexneri at 37°C than those obtained from leaves and seeds. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum bactericidal concentrations were observed for buds and shoots, and not for seeds and leaves. The seeds were associated with higher coagulation activity in comparison with other parts of the plant and alum. These results suggest that bud and seed extracts can be used for water treatment, avoiding the risk of contamination by water-borne pathogens and promoting an indigenous solution to disease control and environmental management.