International Peer Reviewed Journal
Vol. 29 · July 2017 JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research is produced
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Low-Cost Moringa Seeds and Terminalia
Kernels Water Purifier:
A Water Management Technology
ANNABELLE F. MORTERA
http://orcid.org 0000-0002-0439-7223
[email protected] Zamboanga City State Polytechnic College
Zamboanga City, Phillippines
ABSTRACT
The study aimed to develop a low cost water purifier in treating ground water
utilizing indigenous plant materials such as the seeds of the Moringa Oleifera Lam
as the main flocculant and the kernels of the Terminalia catappa Linn. which is
the activated carbon adhering to the principles and practices of green technology.
Ground water samples from three local communities in Zamboanga City, namely,
Talisayan in the west cost, Bungiao in the east cost and San Roque in the city
proper were gathered conforming to the standard procedures of the Department
of Science and Technology (DOST). Some water parameters were tested using
the gadget and these were compared with the standard values set by the Philippine
National Standard for Drinking Water (PNSDW). A survey questionnaire of four
point Likert scale was employed in determining the acceptability of the gadget
among sixty four respondents from the three communities. The weighted mean
was use in treating the data. The findings revealed that the gadget which is made
of a four layer stainless steel containing the de fatted moringa press cake (MPC),
the terminalia granulated activated carbon (TGAC), the sand and the pebbles
has the capacity to improve the quality of ground water based from the result
of the laboratory tests conducted by the Depratment of Science and Rechnology
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in Zamboanga City as against the standard values of the Philippine National
Standard for Drinking Water on the following parameters, pH total dissolved
solids (TDS), hardness and total coliform count (TCC0 and odor. The gadget is
accepted by the sixty four respondents in terms of its functionality, effectiveness
and portability. The study recommends that the gadget may use different type of
materials with surface pores smaller than that of the particles of the press cake
and activated carbon.
Keywords — Water Management Technology, water purifier, Moringa
Oleifera Lam, experimental design, Philippines
INTRODUCTION
Water, coming straight from the ground contains bacteria and unwanted
sediments, which makes it unfit for human consumption. This may cause several
water-borne diseases among the locals such as diarrhoea,cholera, intestinal
helminths and other related diseases, specially the young and the old.
In rural areas particularly in developing countries like the Philippines,
especially in Zamboanga City, underground wells still used in procuring water,
for drinking, washing, bathing, cooking a. This is done either by drawing water
straight from the well using a bucket or through the use of water pumps.
Procuring water this way, puts the health of the people at great risk. This is
the present concern of the World Health Organization (WHO)- to provide clean
and potable water people who do not have access to it.
For many communities in developing countries, however, the use of
coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation is low due to high cost and limited
availability of chemical coagulants such as alum and iron salts. These substances
aside from being expensive pose a threat on the people’s health as these are
inorganic. For water to be considered safe and potable it has to undergo treatment
prior to drinking or cooking.
One alternative could be the use of moringa oleifara seeds. The seeds can be
used to purify water Corpuz (2009).
Moringa Oleifera Lam. more popularly known as malunggay in thePhilippines
is called “The Miracle Tree”. As the term implies, from its leaves down to its roots,
almost every part of the moringa tree can be utilized, as food, medicine, fertilizer,
dye among others. Studies have shown that the Moringa seeds not only diminish
water pollution, but that they also remove harmful bacteria, making it fit for
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consumption. The filtering method is simple and effective. The Moringa seed
powder is added, joins with the solids in the water and sinks at the bottom. The
result is clear and clean water. The crushed seeds are to a bucket of water and let
the bucket is allowed to sit undisturbed for about an hour or until the impurities
have sunk to the bottom. The process can be done at home.
Since, using chemicals in treating ground water proved to be expensive and
at times possed a threat to peoples’ health, the need to utilize organic substances
that are cheap and readily available proved to be the best solution to the current
issues and problems on water sanitation and hygiene.
It is for these reasons that this study was conceived, it aid to develop a low
cost and handy water purifier using defatted seeds from Moringa Oleifera Lam
or malunggay as the main flocculent and the kernels of the talisay tree as the
activated carbon for underground water adhering to green technology principles
and practices and utilizing indigenous plant materials.
According to the World Health Organization WHO (2004), Water,
Sanitation and Health Program there are 1.8 million people die every year from
diarrhoeal diseases (including cholera); 90% are children under 5, mostly in
developing countries.
Eigthy- eight percent, (88%) of diarrhoeal disease is attributed to unsafe
water supply, inadequate sanitation and hygiene and improvements in drinking-
water quality through household water treatment, such as chlorination at point
of use, can lead to a reduction of diarrhoea episodes by between 35% and 39%.
Since, involving chemicals in treating ground water proved to be expensive
and at times possed a threat to peoples’ health, the need to utilize organic
substances that are cheap and readily available proved to be the best solution to
the current issues and problems on water sanitation and hygiene.
It is for these reasons that this study was conceived, to develop a low cost
and handy water purifier using defatted seeds from Moringa Oleifera Lam
or malunggay as the main flocculent and the kernelsof the talisay tree as the
activated carbon for underground water adhering to green technology principles
and practices and utilizing indigenous plant materials.
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The main objective of this study is to develop a low cost water purifier
using Moringa Oleifera (malungay) seeds as its main flocculent and the kernels
of Terminalia catappa (talisay) as the source of activated carbon to treat underg
round water.
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Specifically, the study determined the: 1. Design and construct a low cost
water purifier using moringa seeds as its main flocculent and terminalia kernels
as its activated carbon that is environment friendly, which involve the materials,
processes and procedures to be used in the gadget; 2. Evaluate the effectiveness
of the gadget based on the laboratory test results on the different parameters of
the water samples before and after treatment; 3. The shelf life of the processed
and packed moringa presscake; and, 4. Evaluate the acceptability of the gadget in
terms of its functionality, effectiveness and portability.
METHODOLOGY
The mixed research was used in this study which is a combination of
qualitative and quantitative research. Quantitative research, in which the
information gathered is quantitative, meaning , numeric information from some
type of formal measurement and is analyzed with statistical procedures. Whereas,
qualitative research focuses on gaining insights on and an understanding of an
individual’s perception of events. It is concerned with in-depth descriptions of
people or events and their interpretation of circumstances. Methods used in this
type of research are questionnaires and unstructured interviews collectively used
in a survey. Cristobal and Cristobal (2013)
The first phase of the study made use of the true experimental design after
the development of the gadget, in which it made use of the independent and
dependent variables as well as the moderating / experimental variable or the
causal effect design and the latter phase made use of qualitative approach which
involved the survey method in the collection or gathering of data.
The study was composed of six stages; Stage 1 was the gadget design; Stage
2 was the construction of the gadget. The third stage wass the processing and
packing of the moringa press cake and the terminalia activated carbon. The
fourth stage was the gathering of water samples. Stage 5 was the testing of
the effectiveness of the water purifier against standard conditions. The last
stage was the evaluation of the gadget among ground water users. All stages
were illustrated using the input-throughput-output approach employing
biostatics. Biostatistics (or biometry) is the application of statistics to a wide
range of topics in biology. The science of biostatistics encompasses the design of
biological experiments, especially in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture and fishery;
the collection, summarization, and analysis of data from those experiments; and
the interpretation of, and inference from, the results.
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The study is a technical development research in which the gadget or the
stainless steel water purifier was designed, constructed and developed. In objective
number two, evaluating the effectiveness of the gadget, the true experimental
design was employed, this type of design is primarily concerned with cause and
effect relationships in which all experimental studies involve manipulation or
control of the independent variables (causes) and measurement of the dependent
variables (effects). This design utilizes the principle of research known as the
method of difference. This means that the effect of a single variable applied to the
situation can be assessed, and the difference likewise be determined (Mill as cited
in Cristobal and Cristobal (2013). The time series design was used for research
objective number three, where the formula, O1-O2-O3 x O4-O5-O6 was used
,where: O1, O2,O3 stand for pretest (multiple observations) and O4,O5,O6
stand for postest (multiple observations) and X stand for intervention/treatment
while the survey method was employed for research objective four.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The laboratory tests, specifically the physical or aesthetic parameters were
done in the Chemistry Laboratory of the Zamboanga City State Polytechnic
College, Zamboanga City and the chemical and microbiological aspects were
performed by the chemists of the Department of Science and Technology,
(DOST) at Pettit Barracks, this City. The results were used to evaluate the
effectiveness of the gadget in treating underground water.
Open underground water was collected from three barangays in the east and
west coasts and in the city proper using the purposive sampling. In determining
the barangay where the water sample will come from, the fish bowl method was
used.
In the west coast, barangay A was identified, the source of ground water was
an open deep well, which was the same type of source with barangay B in the city
proper. While a dug-out-hole was for barangay C in the east coast.
Water samples were drawn and collected from the respective sources using
sterile containers with a lid and following the standard procedures from the
DOST on the gathering of water samples from open water source. These were
brought to the DOST for the laboratory tests and analyses. There were two sets
of water samples, one set were the samples gathered from the three different
sources which were untreated with the gadget while the second set were the
samples which were treated with the gadget containing the defatted moringa
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seeds or the moringapress cake (MPC) and the other was the kernels of terminalia
granulated activated carbon (TGAC) all of which were processed and packed in
a four layered stainless steel, which is the water purifier. The materials, processes
and procedures all conform to the principles of greentechnology. Which are all
environment friendly and organic.
The results were used in evaluating the effectiveness of the gadget against
standard values of the Philippine National Standard for Drinking Water
(PNSDW) of 1993, under PD 856 -The Sanitation Code of the Philippines of
1975.
The time series design was used in evaluating the shelf life of the moringapress
cake. While the survey-questionnaire was the main instrument used in evaluating
the acceptability of the gadget among the sixty-four respondents from the three
barangays. The weighted mean was use in the treatment of data.
FINDINGS
The following findings were deduced
1. On the effectiveness of the gadget
1. Physical Parameters
1.1 Odor- there was no objection on the odor state on the three water
samples before and after treatment using the gadget.
1.2 Color- the three water sample gave a clear color state before
treatment with the gadget. After treatment, however, all three
sample were found to be slightly cloudy. The main reason for
this maybe the holes of each cover materials which were “big”
enough to allow the passage of the minute particles of the
moringapresscake (MPC) and the terminalia granulated activated
carbon (TGAC) rendering the state of cloudiness to the water.
2. Chemical Parameters
2.1 pH- all pH values after treatment using the gadget rendered the
three water samples slightly alkaline. Before treatment , the pH
values for all samples was slightly acidic. The water after treatment
using the gadget became alkaline which is an indication that there
was improvement in the pH of all water samples.
2.2 Hardness- this is one property of water that measures the minerals
present in the form of calcium carbonate (CaCO3). All water
samples before treatment using the gadget have hardness values
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that were acceptable by the PNSDW. After treatment using the
water purifier, the values for hardness has decreased by 11 to 27
percent. This shows that there was an improvement in the quality
of all water samples in terms of hardness when using the gadget.
2.3 Turbidity- Values for turbidity before treatment using the gadget
for the two water samples in Barangays A and C had shown
to be higher than the standard. Except for the water sample
from barangay B which met the standard value for turbidity.
However, after treatment using the gadget. Turbidity values had
increased. This shows that there were solid particles that were
suspended in the water rendering the water cloudy or turbid. The
reason for this maybe the materials used as covering for the MPC
and TGAC. The minute particles of these two substances were
able to pass through the holes of the three cover materials which
were, the filter paper, muslin cloth and sterile gauze.
2.4 Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) – The accepted standard value for
TDS is 500mg/L. All water samples have values exceeding the
accepted value except for water sample coming from Barangay
B. After treatment, all TDS values had decreased from 55 to 72
percent. This means that there was improvement in the quality of
the water samples in terms of total dissolved solids.
3. Microbiological Parameter
3.1 Total Coliform Count (TCC)-This is the number of coliform
found in water. Standard value for this is zero per 100ml sample.
But the permissible limit is 10. All water samples gave a very
high number of TCC before treatment. After treatment however,
the number of bacteria decreased by 63 to 66 percent. This shows
that the gadget containing the MPC and TGAC has the ability to
kill bacteria present in water.
2. On the Shelf Life of the Moringa Press cake (MPC)
2. 1. Before Use, under normal room temperature, the average shelf
life of the MPC is 19 days and kept refrigerated is 30 to 31 days
2. 2. After use, under normal room temperature, the average shelf life
of the MPC is 3 to 4 days and kept inside the refrigerator about
a week or 7 days.
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3. On the acceptability of the Gadget in terms of its:
3.1 Functionality- the overall mean for this parameter was 3.34.
This value was found to be in the range of 3.26-4.00 with the
descriptive equivalent of Very Acceptable.
3.2 Effectiveness – Parameter number two, which was the effectiveness
on the acceptability of the gadget among the sixty-four
respondents had an overall mean of 3.25 and with a “Acceptable”
descriptive equivalent.
3.3 Portability- the overall mean for this parameter was 3.15 and
with a descriptive equivalent of Acceptable.
The grand mean on the acceptability of the gadget among the respondents
from the three barangay was 3.25 with an Acceptable descriptive rate.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of the findings the following are derived
1. The gadget, which is a stainless steel water purifier containing the processed
and packed moringapress cake (MPC) andterminalia granulated activated
carbon (TGAC) can treat and improve the quality of underground water
on some parameters on the basis of the ratio used of the MPC and TGAC
per liter of underground water and the kind of materials used as cover.
2. The gadget is acceptable in terms of its functionality, effectiveness and
portability.
3. The average shelf life of the MPC is about a month kept refrigerated while
unrefrigerated is 19 days prior to use. After use, the average shelf life is
about a week kept inside the refrigerator and only 3-4 days under room
temperature.
It is best to keep the MPC inside the refrigerator for a longer shelf life.
RECOMMENDATIONS
On the basis of the conclusions, the following are recommended: 1) Other
materials maybe use as cover so as not to allow the passage of minute particles such
as the moringa press cake and terminalia activated carbon in order to obtain clear
state of water; 2) Increase the amount of the moringapress cake and terminalia
activated carbon per liter of water to be purified to yield better purification and
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improvement of the quality of water; 3) It is best to keep the MPC inside the
refrigerator for a longer shelf life; 4) For the gadget to be strongly acceptable
among underground water users, an awareness campaign maybe conducted on
water sanitation and hygiene; and 5) A follow up study similar to the present one
maybe conducted to improve the gadget.
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