A New Alternative for Flocculation with Moringa Oleifera in Ecuador

Even though Ecuador is a country with one of the highest concentration of rivers per square kilometer, its water resources are of poor quality d there is a lack of drinking water and sewage systems for its population. In 2013, only 34% of the rural population had access to drinking water and 25% to sewerage services. This is because of a lack of infrastructure and the necessary budgets allocated to them. This paper deals with a proposal for water purification that consists of the use of the Moringa olifeira plant to facilitate the flocculation process, considering that its use reduces the costs associated with the water treatment and minimizes the concentration of metals in the residual sludge. The dosage effects of the plant seeds during the flocculation processes were explored with Jar tests using a solution in doses from 250 to 350 mg per liter of water and then evaluating Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and turbidity as selected response variables. The COD reduction goes from the 45% to 55% while the turbidity reduction goes from the 77% to 81%, making the use of the plant possible and feasible.