On Moringa oleifera dispersions for water treatment

Abstract

The Moringa oleifera is a multiple purpose tree with an increasing investigation of its potentials. The present paper investigated the characteristics of Moringa seeds used in the preparation of dispersions for water treatment. The mean weight of the seeds was 265.7 mg and the tegument represented about 8.2% of the total mass of the seed. Approximately 96% of the seeds were comprised by volatile material, constituting, therefore, high organic content. Fats represented 41.02% and proteins 35.35%. Dispersions prepared with seeds with peel were less homogeneous than those without. The removal of the oleic content of the Moringa seeds may contribute to higher turbidity removal. According to the results on particle size distribution the dispersions in which the oleic content of seeds was removed had larger specific surface of the particle. Because of that, this type of dispersion presented smaller residual values of apparent color and turbidity.