The usefulness of Moringa oleifera (dan-da-lun) seed for the sedimentation and decontamination of turbid water from ponds and revers Part I: Laboratory investigations

ABSTRACT

The seeds of Moringa oleifera were tested as the clearing and sedimentation agents in tubid water from various sources (1) DMR pond (2) Yangon river (3) Bago River (4) Hline River (5) Hlinethaya Pond (6) artesian well from laydaunkkan and (7) Thanlyin River. the turbidity reduction of 80.00 to 99.5 percent paralled by a primary bacterial reduction of 90.00 to 99.99 per cent were obtained within the first one to two hours of treatment, the bacteria being concentrated in the coagulated sediment. It was observed that 100 mg (one ywe) of the seed powder served as a clearing agent in one litre of turbid water. However, the difference of clearing activity was not significant with different amounts of powder, lwhen 50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg respectively were used with constant water quantity (one litre) within 24 hours. Moreover, the effect of the seeds could not alter the original pH of the tested water samples. The powder of M. oleifera leaves, bark and roots had no power to clear the turbidity of tested water samples.