THE USE OF SELECTED PLANT EXTRACTS IN GREY- WATER TREATMENT

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Department of Engineering

ABSTRACT
Grey water is the left over water from baths, showers, hand basin and washing machine; in some cases water from the kitchen sink. The use of some synthetic chemical reagents in the treatment of grey water has been reported to be cancerogenic. The present study is an investigation into the possibility of using environmental friendly substances like, Agave sisalana leaves extract, Moringa oleifera seeds extract and parkia biglobosa seeds extract as coagulant and antimicrobial properties. Dry leaves of Agave sisalana, dry seeds Moringa oleifera and dry seeds of Parkia biglobosa were obtained from the botanical garden of the Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. Grey water sample with turbidity ranging from 68, 67 and 76 NTU over the period of study were collected from Queen Amina Hostel of the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. A standard jar test apparatus was used for the coagulation test, to the determine the minimal dosage of the extracts which are 100 mg/l, 120 mg/l and 150 mg/l. 500 ml of the grey water from was dosed with increasing amounts of the extracts. Turbidity (NTU), PH, total dissolved solids (PPM) electrical conductivity (μs/cm), dissolved oxygen (ppm) BOD (ppm) and antimicrobial properties were measured using standard methods. The study shows that the extracts could act as a natural coagulant, flocculent and absorbent in grey water treatment. Separately Moringa oleifera was found to be more effective in coagulation than Agave sisalana and Parkia biglobosa with a turbidity removal from 76 NTU to 47 NTU and 18 NTU (85 % and 90 %) removal, and also Moringa olerifera separately was more effective in antimicrobial analysis with coloy reduction from 80 cfu to 40 cfu. while in combine, Parkia biglobosa seeds extract and Agave sisalana leaves extract in ratio 1:1 were more effective with turbidity removal of 35 % from 76 NTU to 62 NTU. In terms of antimicrobial analysis there was no synergistic action between them. The extracts can be used as alternative coagulants in grey water treatment. Similarly, the separate use of the extracts is more effective than in combine.