Experimental study on parameter estimation and mechanism for the removal of turbidity from groundwater and synthetic water using Moringa oleifera seed powder

Abstract

In the present work, Moringa oleifera seed powder was prepared and it was applied for the removal of turbidity from the groundwater and synthetic water. The characterization of the M. oleifera seed powder was carried out by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. The FT-IR results observed the presence of different chemical functional groups in the M. oleifera seed powder and the SEM analysis showed a smooth surface with rough peaks and pores in the M. oleifera seed powder. The laboratory jar test procedures were applied for the conduct of experimental runs. The turbidity of the groundwater and synthetic water were varied from 50 to 135 NTU. The effect of operating parameters such as initial turbidity, M. oleifera dosage, and pH of the solution were optimized for the maximum removal of turbidity. The results of the coagulation activity of M. oleifera showed that the removal of turbidity lay in between 55 and 75% for synthetic turbid water and only 46–69% for groundwater at an optimum pH of 6–7. The obtained experimental values were applied to the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model, to check the influence of sorption of the particles onto the M. oleifera seed powder. The goodness of fit of experimental data was observed with Langmuir isotherm model, indicating a monolayer sorption of particles onto the M. oleifera seed powder. It was observed from the isotherm study indications that the sorption may also be influenced in the removal of turbidity to some extent from the groundwater and synthetic water.