ISSN: 2141 - 4122 http://www.wiloludjournal.com doi:10.5707/cjbiolsci.2013.6.2.26.32 doi:10.5707/cjbiolsci.2013.6.2 A REVIEW ON THE USE OF PLANTS’ SEEDS AS BIOCOAGULANTS IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER
P.R.O Edogbanya1, O.J Ocholi2 and Y. Apeji3
Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.2Department of tate, Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ahmadu Bell University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.3 Department of
Bello
Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology,Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Ahmadu Bello University, harmaceutical Microbiology,Faculty
Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. tate, 1
ABSTRACT
The use of local technologies for water treatment dates far back in History. One of these involves the use of indigenous seeds as biocoagulants. This review highlights the potential of some plants’ seeds to serve as biocoagulants, with respect to the removal of turbidity, disinfectant properties and their abilities to remove heavy metals from water. Their mechanism of action, advantages and limitations over chemical coag coagulants were also considered. From this review it can be concluded that seeds have the potential to serve as an alternative source of biocoagulants in water treatment. There is a need to further research in this area with the aim of harnessing them to address the present problem of water pollution especially in the rural areas. address KEYWORDS: Alternative, Biocoagulants, Potential , Rural , Seeds, Treatment, Water
Received for Publication: 26/05/13
/13
Corresponding Author: Pro_ebnoc@yahoo.com
Accepted for Publication: 12/07/13
INTRODUCTION
Every day, 2 million tons of sewage, industrial and agricultural waste is discharged into the world’s water (UN
WWAP, 2003). The United Nations estimates that the amount of wastewater produced annually is about 1,500 km3, wastewater six times more water than exists in all the rivers of the world. (UN WWAP, 2003). It is estimated that more than one billion people still lack access to clean drinking water (European Commission, 2000).
The health implications of polluted water are enormous. Worldwide, infectious diseases such as waterborne diseases h are the number one killer of children under five years old and more people die from unsafe water annually than from all forms of violence, including war. (WHO, 2002). Unsafe water causes 4 billion cases of diarrhea each year, and ar. results in 2.2 million deaths, mostly of children under five (WHO and UNICEF, 2000). Reports by Food and
Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of U.S.A revealed that in African countries, particularly Nigeria, water related countries, diseases had been interfering with basic human development (FAO, 2007).
Coagulation is a critical step in water treatment processes not only because it removes particles but because it is also removing the microorganisms that are often attached to the particles (Bida,1991; Guo et al., 2010; McCarthy, 1989). ganisms .,
Aluminum sulphate (Alum) and chlorine are the most commonly used coagulant and disinfectant in water treatment
(Eilert, 1981; Nalm, 1998). Unfortunate these che chemicals are expensive (Balandrin et al., 1985; Muyibi et al., 2002)
,
and are not readily accessible, especially in the rural areas. These chemicals have being reported to constitute health harzards (Crapper et al.,1973; Miller et al., al.,1984; Ghebremichael et al.,2005). They are also not ecofriendly, as they
2005).
tend to affect non target organisms (Ahluwalia et al., 2007) and are generally non biodegradable (Pritchard et al.,
2009). Since conventional methods of assuring potable water in developing countries are unsustainable, there is a
).
developing unsu need to consider the
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Edogbanya et al.,: Continental J. Biological Sciences 6 (2): 26 - 32, 2013
.,:
application of sustainable technologies using locally available materials in treating surface water (Pritchard et al.,
2009).One areas that holds a lot of prospect for the future is the plant kingdom and particularly the use of seeds in particularly water treatment (Dalen et al., 2009; Subramanium et al., 2011; Yongabi,2009). This paper attempts to give an overview of some seeds used locally in the treatment of water, and to stimulate an interest for further research into treatment harnessing this potential for tackling the present problem of water pollution, especially in the rural areas.
METHODOLOGY
A number of seed extracts have been known to flocculate particles in water and the following procedure has been particles used according to Jahn (1981) It include;
1) Seeds are extracted from the plant fruit.
2) Seeds are dried for up to three days.
3) Seeds are ground into fine powder.
4) A mixture of water and ground seed material is prepared (the volume of water depend on the type of seed material used)
5) It is mixed for 5 to 10 minutes: the faster it is stirred, the less time is required.
6) Finally, after the sediments settle, the treated water is decanted and tested by measuring physicochemical p parameters like pH, turbidity, colour e.t.c. The coliform counts is also taken into consideration.
H,
MECHANISM OF ACTION OF SEEDS IN WATER PURIFICATION
The chemical compositions of the active coagulating agent of seeds like Moringa oleifera have been debated.
Several researchers have described the active component from a water extract as cationic and proteinaceous
(Ndabigengesere et al.,1995; Muyibi et al.,2003). However a few have argued that the active component from a salt al.,2003). extract responsible for coagulation is an organic polyelectrolyte that is neither protein nor polysaccharide (Okuda et xtract al., 2001). Researchers have suggested the coagulation mechanism for the water extracted active agent is adsorption and charge neutralization. Moringa oleifera like many other seeds have also being reported to have antimicrobial properties (Yongabi, 2010). The antimicrobial aspects continue to be researched. Findings support recombinant proteins both removing microorganisms by coagulation as well as acting directly as growth inhibitors of the microorganisms (Doerr, 2005).
EXAMPLES OF PLANTS’ SEEDS USED AS BIOCOAGULANTS
Many plants’ seeds have being reported to be used as biocoagulants some of them include include: Moringa Oleifera
Moringa oleifera is a small to medium medium-sized deciduous tree which belongs to the family Moringaceae and is native to North India (Navie and Csurhes, 2010). Its biocoagulative potential has being reported as far back as
Navie
1981(Jahn,1981). Amagloh and Benang (2009) reported that a concentration of Moringa oleifera powder of 12.0 g/1000 ml loading dose as coagulant gives similar effect on turbidity compared with alum of loading doses of 10.0 g/1000 ml and 12.0 g/1000 ml. Pritchard et al (2010) reported that Moringa oleifera removed 84% turbidity of water d initially at 146 NTU. Attempts have being made to characterize and purify the active biocoagulative protein of
Moringa oleifera (Ghebremichael, 2005). Apart from the turbidity removal properties, Moringa oleifera has being reported to have antimicrobial properties in water (
(Amagloh and Benang,2009; Choubey et al; Pritchard et al, al 2011;Yongabi,2009). It also has being reported to have the ability to remove heavy metals from water
(Subramanium et al, 2011; Vikashni et al al.,2012). Prosopis juliflora
Prosopis juliflora belongs to the family Fabaceae. The fruit is a modified, indehiscent, fleshy legume called a
‘dropaceous loment’ (Burkart, 1977). Diaz et al., (1999) reported that Prosopis juliflora seed extract was able to produce a final water whose turbidity was close to the required standard of 5NTU with both high (100
(100–200 NTU) and low (30–40 NTU) initial turbidities.
40
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27
Edogbanya et al.,: Continental J. Biological Sciences 6 (2): 26 - 32, 2013
.,:
Cicer arietinum
Cicer arietinum commonly known as chiken pea is a legume belonging to the family Fabaceae (Wikipedia, 2013).
Choubey et al. (2012) reported that turbidity reduced up to 95.89% for highly turbid water which is almost as same as the reduction capacity of alum. Cicer arientinum was also found to possess antimicrobial properties (Choubey et al, 2012). Dasgupta et al. (2011) also reported that Cicer arientinum has the ability to adsorb heavy metals from water. Dolichos lablab
This is also known as the Hyacinth bean and belongs to the family Fabaceae.Shilpa et al. (2012) reported that
Turbidity of water decreased from 500 NTU to 4.3 NTU when treated with Dolichos lablab seed peels extract.
Phaseolus vulgaris
This is the commonly known as kidney beans and it belongs to the family Fabaceae. Subramanium et al (2011) s reported that seed extract of Phaseolus vulgaris could reduce turbidity level from 250 NTU to 100 NTU after 24hr standing period. Subramanium et al (201 also reported the ability of Phaseolus vulgaris seed extracts to adsorb
(2011)
heavy metals from water.Mirjana et al (2010) reported that partially purified coagulant of Phaseolus vulgaris fied reduced the turbidity of water at 35 NTU by 72.3% which was almost 22 times higher than those obtained by crude times extract considering applied dosages.
Parkinsonia aculeata
Parkinsonia aculeata is commonly known as Jerusalem thorn and it belongs to the family Fabaceae (USDA, 2013). nown Morobhe (2008) reported that fine (0.200mm
