Efficacy of a natural coagulant protein from Moringa oleifera (Lam) seeds in treatment of Opa reservoir water, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

Health related and environmental side effects associated with conventional chemical coagulants used in water treatment has prompted the search for natural alternatives, especially of plant origin. This study investigated the water coagulation activities of a purified protein from <i>Moringa oleifera</i> seeds on the water from Opa reservoir of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. <i>M. oleifera</i> coagulant protein (MoCP) was purified via ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography respectively. Subunit and native molecular weight as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and gel filtration was 14.2 kDa and 30.3 kDa respectively. Modified jar test was used to investigate the coagulation activity of the purified protein in comparison to that of conventional chemical coagulant (aluminium sulphate). MoCP significantly reduced turbidity (p < 0.05) and organic load which contributed to about 58.18% reduction in total coliform of treated water. MoCP also elicited promising antimicrobial activity against bacterial isolates in the water from Opa reservoir.