MORINGA OLEIFERA SEEDS AS A LOW-COST BIOSORBENT FOR REMOVING HEAVY METALS FROM WASTEWATER

Samuel Obeng Apori1,2, Kofi Atiah2 , Emmanuel Hanyabui2 ,John Byalebeka1

1Uganda Martyrs University, Faculty of Agriculture, African Center of Excellence in Agroecology and Livelihood System, Kampala, Uganda, apori.samuel@umu.ac.ug.

2University of Cape Coast, Department of Soil Science, Ghana, Kofi.atiah@ucc.edu.gh, emmanuel.hanyabui@stu.ucc.edu.gh

3 Uganda Martyrs University, Faculty of agriculture, Kampala, Uganda

REVIEW PAPER

ISSN 2637-2150
e-ISSN 2637-2614
UDC 628.193:546.815
DOI: 10.7251/STED2002045O

Paper received: 19.02.2020.
Paper accepted: 20.05.2020.
Published: 26.05.2020.
http://stedj-univerzitetpim.com

Corresponding Author:

Samuel Obeng Apori, Uganda Martyrs University, Faculty of Agriculture, African Center of Excellence in Agroecology and Livelihood System, Kampala, Uganda, apori.samuel@umu.ac.ug

ABSTRACT

Heavy metals are considered to be one of the major contaminants of water in recent years due to their non-biodegradable property; hence making them toxic and bioaccumulate to living organisms. Conventional methods such us chemical precipitation, physical treatment through ion exchange are used for removing heavy metal ions from water. These methods are expensive and attributed to incomplete metals removal and high cost of treatment. In recent years, researchers have found alternative low cost and effective method for removal of toxic metals through biosorption process using biological materials. Moringa oleifera seeds is one of the biological materials which has effective adsorption capacity for removal of heavy metals from water and wastewater. In this article, the seeds of Moringa oleifera seeds as a low-cost biosorbent for removal of heavy metals is presented. Moringa oleifera seeds is inexpensive material that contains amino acids. The amino acid is a major constituent of the functional groups that aids in greater ability of heavy metals removal through metal ion exchange or complexation, which is mainly affected by pH, biosorbent dosage, and contact time. Moringa oleifera seeds residues have a greater capacity to absorb heavy metals in a single solution compared to multi ion solution.

Keywords: Moringa oleifera seeds, biosorbent, heavy metals, amino acids, waste water.

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