A Novel, Eco-Friendly Bioremediation of Lead-Contaminated Water
Abstract Materials and Methods Results cont.
Lead exposure is a global problem, especially in developing countries where lead Filter Design Procedure:
poisoning accounts for 853,000 annual deaths. The objective of this experiment y = 0.069x + 0.003 y = 0.072x + 0.0041. Assembling the filter (acrylic tube, end plate, lid, water valve) R? = 0.996 R? = 0.994
was to design an eco-friendly method for the bio-remediation of lead- ? Total height of the sand column ? 16? ? based on Darcy?s Law 2. Building a filter based on design to include gravel, small gravel, coarse 
contaminated water which would alleviate this problem. The Moringa Oleifera Q = KA *(depth of filter media+8? depth of excess water)/depth of sand
(MO) seeds were the main component of the bio-remediation system because Q= flow rate (8oz/min), K= hydraulic conductivity(0.5?/min), A=area
sand, regular sand, and dispersion plate
3. De-oiling of Moringa with Soxhlet apparatus after seeds were Series1 Series1
they are locally available and have adsorbing properties that could be used in Figure 3 - Filter Design shelled, grinded & dried (160 F) Linear (Series1) Linear (Series1)
purifying heavy metal-contaminated water. It was hypothesized that with this 4. Treatment of lead contaminated water with Moringa to establish optimum 
method it would be possible to significantly reduce lead in effluent water. The conditions:
procedure included designing and constructing a filter, de-oiling Moringa seeds, ? dosage of Moringa (0.1, 0.2, 1, 3 & 4g/100mL) at pH 7, 350 rpm
preparing heavy metal-contaminated water, experimenting with Moringa 20min, 5ppm of Pb Concentration (ppm) Concentration (ppm)
treatment and sand filtration, and testing samples with an AA-Spectrometer. The ? pH (5, 6, 7, and 8), 3g/100mL MO, 350 rpm, 20min, 5ppm of Pb Figure 13 Figure 13
variables tested were dosage of Moringa, pH, treatment time, and effects of initial ? time of treatment (10, 15, 20, and 25min), 3g/100mL MO at Samples Tested after Treatments with Moringa Samples Tested after 2-Stage Filtration
concentration and 2-Stage Filtration. The hypothesis was supported by results. 350 rpm, 5ppm of Pb 5 standards were prepared for Pb with concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, 1, 3, and 6ppm. Based 
The pre-treatment with Moringa and filtration through the sand filter was most 5. Testing effect of initial Pb concentration on efficiency of lead removal on the known standard concentrations, absorbance was calculated and assigned to each 
efficient - 100% removal of lead after one treatment and filtration. The treatment with treatment of Moringa standard, and Peak Absorbance Calibration Curves were created. Using Absorbance 
with only Moringa seeds was also very effective ? over 96% of lead removal. The ? Concentrations of 0.03, 0.3, 3, and 5 ppm of Pb tested with Calibration Curves, concentration was calculated for all tested samples.
optimal conditions for lead removal are 3g/100mL of Moringa at pH=8 and 20min 3g/100mL MO at 350 rpm, and pH 7 for 20 min.
pre-treatment time. Moreover, this pre-treatment/filtration method for lead 6. Experimenting with 2-Stage Filtration:
removal is simple, extremely cost-effective, and environmentally-friendly. It has Materials Prepare 8L of HM water, treat with MO at pH=7 for 20min, then run through Discussion
great potential to be the ultimate bio-remediation method for lead removal in the filter. Discard first 3.5L, additional 4L treat again with Moringa, then run ? Moringa seeds ? Mixer through the filter again. Obtain 100mL samples at each step. Since this method of lead-contaminated water purification is one-of-a-kind, there is not 
developing countries. ? Large size gravel ? Muslin cloth 7. Heavy metal concentration testing:  FAA Spectrometer, then concentration much data available to compare with other similar bioremediation systems. 
? Small size gravel ? (2) Timers
Purpose calculated  from calibration graphs.? Coarse sand ? Distilled water ? 2-Stage filtration produced great results ? 100% of lead removal and clear
? Play sand ? Deionized water water to drink (not available similar research and results to compare).
? 240 million people exposed to Lead ? Glass stirring rods ? Lab notebook? Pipettes ? Treatment with only Moringa seeds resulted in efficiency removal of 96% for  Pb, while 
? Lead exposure accounts for 853,000 deaths annually ? Grinder in another study with Moringa Oleifera for removal of lead, (Alfonso et al. 2013) the 
? Liquid measuring cup results were much lower - 69.2% Pb.
? Most susceptible: children and pregnant women ? 100 ml graduated cylinders
? Can cause brain damage, seizures, hearing loss, behavioral ? Plastic jugs with caps ?Unexpected results were obtained after experimenting with the sand filter. It appears 
? (1) 3', 4.5" dia acrylic tube that sand also has adsorbing properties that aid in the proposed bioremediation of 
problems, learning disabilities, and lower IQ ? (1) 4.5" dia diffuser plate lead-contaminated water (similar research and results to compare are not available).
? 15 -18 million children in developing countries suffer permanent brain ? (1) on-off valve
? pH meter
damage as a result ? Soxhlet apparatus Conclusion
? Atomic Absorption Spectrometer Figure 5 Figure 6- Pre-Treatment of Figure 7 - Testing with Figure 4 - Filter De-Oiling of MO Seeds HMW with Moringa seeds FAA Spectrometer
(Varian AA240FS) Hypothesis was supported by the results ? I was able to significantly reduce the Objective concentration of lead in contaminated water. 
Results and Interpretation ? Highest Pb removal was obtained with 3g/100mL MO at pH=8 and 20 min The objective of this experiment was to design a method for eco-friendly treatment time
? Efficiency of lead removal with Moringa pre-treatment was not affected by 
bioremediation of lead-contaminated water, which could be used in developing 84.2 86.0 88.9 88.9 93.5 90.0 96.4 initial concentration
3.79 74.6 85.6 86.7 89.0 89.2 4.16 93.8 90.1 96.4
countries at the household level. 3.69
75.1 4.17 75.5 ? Treatment with only Moringa seeds was very effective ? over 96% of lead 
75.5 removal
Hypothesis ? 2-Stage filtration was most effective -100% removal of lead after just one 0.960.92 1.020.60 0.53 0.42 0.42 1.02 treatment and one filtration - clean water to drink
0.57 0.49 0.41 0.40 0.27 0.420.26 0.41 0.15 Pre-treatment/filtration method for lead removal is simple, extremely cost-
0.14
I predict that by using Moringa Oleifera seeds and the sand filter, it will be 0% 0% effective, environmentally-friendly, and has great potential for removal of lead in 
developing countries.
possible to significantly reduce the concentration of lead in effluent water. Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 1 Trial 2
Figure 8 ? Effect of Moringa Dosage on Pb Removal Figure 9 ? Effect of pH on Pb Removal This method of pre-treatment/filtration can also be used in the US in areas with 
Research Efficiency of Pb removal increased with dosage up to 3g/100mL, Efficiency of Pb removal was affected by pH of the treated water with 
elevated concentrations of lead in drinking water.
and after that, it remained constant. maximum removal obtained at pH=8 and 96.4% of Pb removal.
93.7 94.2 96.5 95.5 100.0 94.2 93.9 94.8 Future Research
3.99 93.7 94.0 96.7 96.5 100.0 88.2 93.8 94.7Moringa Oleifera 3.97 5.72 Future experimentation can be done to address the following:
(Drumstick Tree) 5.68 ? Effectiveness of treatment with Moringa and filtration through sand filter on 
The Moringa Oleifera seeds have been found to have removal of other heavy metals
adsorption properties, which can be used for water 0.25 0.23 0.14 0.18 ? Saturation time before filter needs to be renewed0.25 0.24 0.13 0.14 0.0 0.02 0.21 0.3
purification. These seeds are widely available in 0% 0.0 0.04 0.21 0.3
0% ? Recovery of heavy metals from biomass
developing countries, sustainable, and inexpensive. ? Effect of sand alone on removal of heavy metalsFigure 1 - ?Moringa Tree? Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 1 Trial 2
www.learnaboutnature.com Trial 1 Trial 2
Trial 1 Trial 2
Figure 10 ? Effect of Treatment Time on Pb Removal Figure 11 ? Effect of Initial Pb Concentration on Efficiency of Pb Removal
How do Moringa crushed seeds work? BibliographyEfficiency of Pb removal increased with the time of treatment up to Initial concentration of Pb had not significantly affected the efficiency of 
? Have been found to have adsorption properties 20min, and after that, there was no significant change in Pb removal. treatment with Moringa. The efficiency of removal was approx. Affonso C. Goncalves Junior, Ana P. Meneghel, Fernanda Rubio, Leonardo Strey, Douglas 
? Ion exchange and Van der Waals forces on surface of biomass 94%, regardless of initial concentration, with exception of    a very C. Dragunski & Gustavo F. Coelho (2013): Applicability of Moringa Oleifera Lam. pie as an 95.3 100.0 100.0 100.0 Adsorbent for Removal of Heavy Metals from Waters; http://www.agriambi.com.br
? COOH is responsible for adsorption of heavy metals 96.0 100.0 100.0 100.04.94 96.1 100.0 100.0 100.0 small concentration of 0.03ppm when there was a complete removal of A CWST Training Manual, September 2009 - Biosand
? Amphoteric character with Point of Zero Charge (PZC) between pH 6 and 7 4.95 lead.4.88 Cleide S. T. Arujo, Dayene C. Carvalho, Helen C. Rezende, Luciana M. Coelho (2013):   Bio-
at pH < PZC ? becomes positive; at pH > PZC ? becomes negative Legend Remediation of Waters Contaminated with Heavy Metals Using Moringa oleifera Seeds as 
C ? Control Sample (before treatment with Moringa), 5 ppm of Pb Biosorbent; Intech, http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/56157
0.23 0.0 0.0 0.0 D1, D2, D3, D4, D5 ? Moringa dosage - 0.1, 0.2, 1, 3, and 4/100mL respectively Hossein Farrokhzadeh, Ensiyeh Taheri, Afshin Ebrahimi: Effectiveness of Moringa oleifera
0.20 0.0 0.0 0.0 pH5, pH6, pH7, pH8 ? pH of the treated water - 5, 6, 7 and 8 respectively Powder in Removal Of Heavy Metals From Aqueous Solutions; Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 
0.19 0.0 0.0 0.0 0% T10, T15, T20, T25 ? Treatment time ? 10, 15, 20 and 25min respectively PSP Volume 22 - No. 5a, 2013
-1 IC1, IC2, IC3, IC4 ? Initial Concentration of Pb ? 0.03, 0.3, 3 and 5 respectively M. Ali Awan, Ishtiaq A. Qazi, Imran Khalid: Removal of Heavy Metal through Adsorption Using 
-1 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 P1 - First Pre-treatment with MO (30g/L); pH=8 Sand, Journal of Environmental Sciences, Vol. 15, No. 3, p. 413-416, 2003
Figure 12 ? Results of Pb Removal in 2?Stage Filtration F1 ? First filtration Ongulu Roselyn Adhiambo, Kituyi John Lusweti, Getenga Zachary Morang'a Biosorption of Pb2+ 
Figure 2 2-Stage Filtration was very effective with 96% of lead removal after just P2 - Second Pre-treatment with MO (30g/L); pH=8 and Cr2+ Using Moringa Oleifera and Their Adsorption Isotherms Science Journal of Analytical 
Schematic Diagram of an ion exchange mechanism
Cleide S. Araujo et al. one treatment with Moringa and 100% removal after first filtration.
F2 ? Second filtration Chemistry, ISSN: 2376-8045 (Print); ISSN: 2376-8053 (Online)
WHO/ UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP) (2011) 
Drinking Water Equity, Safety and Sustainability: Thematic Report on drinking water
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