Pumice and the Moringa oleifera (MO) seed were investigated as alternative natural materials for drinking water treatment based on problems identified at the Stretta Vaudetto water treatment plant in Eritrea. Lab and pilot scale studies showed that pumice was a suitable alternative material for dual media filtration. Conversion of the sand filters at Stretta Vaudetto to pumice-sand media would significantly improve performance of the filtration units. The coagulant protein from the MO seed was purified in a single-step ion exchange purification method. The parameters for batch purification were optimized that can be readily scaled up. This will promote its use in water treatment. A small volume coagulation assay method was developed that simplified and expedited the coagulation activity experiments. MO coagulant protein (MOCP) possessed considerable coagulation and sludge conditioning properties as alum. It also showed antimicrobial effects against bacteria, some of which are antibiotic resistant. The coagulation and antimicrobial properties of MOCP render it important in water treatment.

<p>Pumice and the Moringa oleifera (MO) seed were investigated as alternative natural materials for drinking water treatment based on problems identified at the Stretta Vaudetto water treatment plant in Eritrea. </p><p>Lab and pilot scale studies showed that pumice was a suitable alternative material for dual media filtration. Conversion of the sand filters at Stretta Vaudetto to pumice-sand media would significantly improve performance of the filtration units. The coagulant protein from the MO seed was purified in a single-step ion exchange purification method. The parameters for batch purification were optimized that can be readily scaled up. This will promote its use in water treatment. </p><p>A small volume coagulation assay method was developed that simplified and expedited the coagulation activity experiments. MO coagulant protein (MOCP) possessed considerable coagulation and sludge conditioning properties as alum. It also showed antimicrobial effects against bacteria, some of which are antibiotic resistant. The coagulation and antimicrobial properties of MOCP render it important in water treatment.</p>

Access to fresh water is a human right, yet more than 780 million people, especially in rural areas, rely on unimproved sources and the need for finding ways of treating water is crucial. Although the use of natural coagulant protein in drinking water treatment has been discussed for a long time, the method is still not in practice, probably due to availability of material and limited knowledge. In this study, about hundred different crude extracts made from plant materials found in Southern India were screened for coagulation activity. Extracts of three Brassica species (Mustard, Cabbage and Cauliflower) were showing activity comparable to that of Moringa oleifera and were further investigated. Their protein content and profile were compared against each other and with coagulant protein from Moringa. Mustard (large) and Moringa seed proteins were also studied for their effect against clinically isolated bacterial strains. The protein profiles of Brassica extract showed predominant bands around 9kDa and 6.5kDa by SDS-PAGE. The peptide sequence analysis of Mustard large identified the 6.5kDa protein as Moringa coagulant protein (MO2.1) and the 9kDa protein band as seed storage protein napin3. Of thirteen clinical strains analysed, Moringa and Mustard large were proven effective in either aggregation activity or growth kinetic method or both in all thirteen and nine strains respectively. To my knowledge this is the first report on the presence of coagulant protein in Brassica seeds. Owing to the promising results Brassica species could possibly be used as a substitute to Moringa coagulating agent and chemicals in drinking water treatment. / <p>QC 20121214</p>