CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

This chapter presents the related literature and studies both from local and foreign

sources. This also includes the synthesis of the art, gap to be bridged by the study and the

theoretical framework to fully understand the research to be done. Lastly, the terms are

defined both conceptually and operationally for better comprehension of the study.

Foreign Literature

Coagulation is a critical step in water treatment processes not only because it

removes particles but because it is also removing the microorganisms that are often

attached to the particles. Aluminum sulphate (Alum) and chlorine are the most commonly

used coagulant and disinfectant in water treatment. Unfortunately, these conventionally

available chemicals are expensive and have been reported to constitute health hazards and

also not environment-friendly. That’s why there is a need to find alternative coagulants

that could help to lessen the risk of using the said chemicals.

According to Hussein (2013), plant seeds play important effects as an antimicrobial

agent and coagulant .Due to active components tend to a negatively charged particles

(silt, clay, bacteria, toxins, etc) link to positively charged, water-soluble proteins allowing

the resulting “sediments” to settle to the bottom or be removed by filtration. Moreover,

plant seeds are essential as alternative sources of water purification. Recent studies show

that most plants to have biocoagulative potentials are those with rich protein content,

specifically legumes.

Various studies had conducted the use of different plant seeds to test its coagulative

properties. Papaya (Carica papaya) is one of the major fruit crops cultivated in tropical
and subfamily Caricaceae (Teixeira da Silva et al.,2007). Yongabi et al (2011) reported

that the seed extract from Carica papaya was able to reduce the turbidity of water gotten

from three different streams in Cameroon, Africa from 27, 33, and 117 NTU to 9.9,

9.4,11.9 NTU respectively.

Lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus) is a tropical and subtropical legume from the

Fabaceae family that are cultivated for its edible seeds. The plant originated from

Guatemala, Mexico and Peru. Once domesticated, it spread throughout the Americas, and

the Spaniards imported it to the Pacific Islands and the Philippines (Maquet et al., 1997).

According to Silva (2017) in their study, “Phenotypic Diversity in Lima Bean

Landraces”, Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) is an important source of protein for people

as it contributes all of the essential amino acids necessary for humans. In the Philippines,

lima beans are commercially-available and can also be cultivated. The related studies

regarding the use of proteins from plant seeds as natural coagulant to treat water turbidity

led to
 According to Ghebremichael (2004), Water is undoubtedly the most vital element

among the natural resources. In many developing countries, access to clean and safe

water is a crucial issue. More than six million people die because of diarrhea which is

caused by polluted water. In this case, Water from all sources must have some form of

purification before consumption. A number of effective coagulants from plant origin have

been identified: Nirmali, Okra, red bean, sugar and red maize [1], Moringa oleifera [2],

Cactus latifera, and seed powder of Prosopis juliflora [3]. Natural coagulants have bright

future and are concerned by many researchers because of their abundant source, low

price, environment friendly, multifunction, and biodegradable nature in water

purification.

Moringa oleifera is used as natural coagulants for clarification of water. A

conventional jar test apparatus was used in the experiments to coagulate sample of

synthetic turbid water using coagulants. The efficiency of the extracts of Moringa oleifera

in lowering the turbidity was measured before and after treatment. According to Md.

Asrafuzzaman et al. (2011) in their study “Reduction of Turbidity of Water Using Locally

Available Natural Coagulants”, the researchers concluded that Moringa oleifera work

well in higher-turbidity water than lower- and medium-turbidity water. Turbidity

reduction increases with increasing doses.

A similar study conducted by Ali (2009) in Hurghada, Egypt showed that the

processed Moringa oleifera was improved by isolation of bioactive constituents from the

seeds as coagulant/flocculants which gave turbidity removal from 43.9, 91, and 333 NTU

to 1.99, 1.40, and 2.20 NTU, respectively, corresponding to the of 0.05,0.15,0.30 mg/ L.

It is recommended to be used as a coagulant in developing countries. Encouraged by

results of these studies, many developing countries have turned to use this plant as a

viable coagulant in water and wastewater treatment on a small scale.

References

[1] K. R. Gunaratna, B. Garcia, S. Andersson, and G. Dalhammar, “Screening and

evaluation of natural coagulants for water treatment,” Water Science and Technology, vol.

7, no. 5-6, pp. 19–25, 2007.

[2] S. A. A. Jahn, “Using Moringa seeds as coagulants in developing countries,”

Journal of the American Water Works Association, vol. 80, no. 6, pp. 43–50, 1988.

[3] A. Diaz, N. Rincon, A. Escorihuela, N. Fernandez, E. Chacin, and C. F. Forster,

“A preliminary evaluation of turbidity removal by natural coagulants indigenous to

Venezuela,” Process Biochemistry, vol. 35, no. 3-4, pp. 391–395, 1999.