title: Home water treatment by direct filtration with natural coagulant.
abstract: Seeds of the plant species Strychnos potatorum and Moringa oleifera contain natural polyelectrolytes which can be used as coagulants to clarify turbid waters. In laboratory tests, direct filtration of a turbid surface water (turbidity 15-25 NTU, heterotrophic bacteria 280-500 cfu ml(-1), and fecal coliforms 280-500 MPN 100 ml(-1)), with seeds of S. potatorum or M. oleifera as coagulant, produced a substantial improvement in its aesthetic and microbiological quality (turbidity 0.3-1.5 NTU, heterotrophic bacteria 5-20 cfu ml(-1) and fecal coliforms 5-10 MPN 100 ml(-1)). The method appears suitable for home water treatment in rural areas of developing countries. These natural coagulants produce a 'low risk' water; however, additional disinfection or boiling should be practised during localised outbreaks/epidemics of enteric infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208 016, India.
authors.forename: Raveendra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Babu
authors.forename: Malay
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chaudhuri
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003029:Coagulants; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004573:Electrolytes; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods*; D029588:Moringa oleifera / Q000196:embryology; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D031451:Strychnos / Q000196:embryology; D014871:Water Microbiology; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003029:Coagulants; D004573:Electrolytes