The increasing demand for using competent and inexpensive methods based on biomaterials, like adsorption and biosorption, has given rise to the low-priced alternative biosorbents. In the past few years, Moringa oleifera (MO) has emerged as a green and low-priced biosorbent for the treatment of contaminated waters with heavy metals and dyes, and given its availability, we can create another generation of effective biosorbents based on different parts of this plant. In this review paper, we have briefed on the application of MO as a miraculous biosorbent for water purification. Moreover, the primary and cutting-edge methods for the purification and modification of MO to improve its adsorption are discussed. It was found that MO has abundant availability in the regions where it is grown, and simple chemical treatments increase the effectiveness of this plant in the treatment of some toxic contaminants. The different parts of this miraculous plant’s “seeds, leaves, or even husks” in their natural form also possess appreciable sorption capacities, high efficiency for treating low metal concentrations, and rapid adsorption kinetics. Thus, the advantages and disadvantages of different parts of MO as biosorbent, the conditions favorable to this biosorption, also, the proposal of a logical mechanism, which can justify the high efficiency of this plant, are discussed in this review. Finally, several conclusions have been drawn from some important works and which are examined in this review, and future suggestions are proposed.

Wastewater treatment is a priority, as most of this is discharged into rivers, lakes, seas, and soil. Since there is no treatment facility in Martnez de la Torre, Veracruz, these fluids are released straight into the Filobobos River without treatment. Hence, the Moringa oleifera seed was evaluated as a primary treatment. In this study using wastewater from a direct discharge, pH, turbidity, total suspended solids, and conductivity were determined as control measures. In the jar test, the treatments were carried out using different amounts of coagulant salts (aluminum and iron sulfate) and moringa powder; starting the agitation at 120 rpm for 5 minutes and immediately it was reduced to 60 rpm in 10 minutes with a rest time of 1 hour. After that, the quality parameters were analyzed. The moringa coagulant achieved an average maximum reduction of 71.84 per cent and 89.36 per cent in turbidity and Total Suspended Solids, respectively, which was higher than the salts used. Furthermore, its application had no effect on pH and conductivity parameters, and the coagulant based on Moringa oleifera as a primary treatment agent, since these qualities do not alter and post-treatment is not required, as in the case with salts.

Improving digestibility, fermentation characteristics, and reducing greenhouse biogases to protect the environment without the use of synthetic materials is an important goal of modern-day farming and nutritionist. Plant extracts are capable of solving these. This is due to the digestive enzymes and the bioactive components capable of performing antimicrobial functions inherent in these plants. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of standard maize substrate treated with selected herbs and spices extracts on ruminal environmental biogas production and pressure during fermentation via biogas production technique. Herbs (Azadirachta indica leaves (T1), Moringa oleifera leaves (T2), Ocimum gratissimum leaves (T3) and spices (Allium sativum bulb (T4), Zingiber officinale rhizome (T5)) were harvested, air dried, and milled using standard procedures. Methanolic extracts of the herbs and spices were prepared and used as additives at different concentrations (50, 100, and 150 μL) to the maize substrate for in vitro biogas production. Data were analyzed using regression analysis. There were significant (P < 0.05) differences across all the treatments on the volume and pressure of biogas. The pressure and volume of biogas when compared with the levels tested showed differences (P < 0.05) across all the treatments for the prediction of volume from pressure of biogas. The pressure and volume of gas produced in vitro increased (P < 0.05) and biogases decreased (P < 0.05) by the substrate treated with herbs and spices but for the drum stick leaves which was similar for the levels of concentration tested. This means that the level tested had a pronounced mitigation effect on pressure of biogas and volume of biogas produced. It was concluded that the herb and spice extracts have the potential to improve rumen fermentation and reduce the production of biogases in ruminant diet.

This paper presents a literature review of the quality of greywater generated in different, especially developing, countries, constituents found in greywater, some treatment systems, natural materials for treatment, some reuse strategies and public perception regarding greywater reuse. The review shows that generation rates are mostly influenced by lifestyle, types of fixtures used and climatic conditions. Contaminants found in greywater are largely associated with the type of detergent used and influenced by other household practices. Many of the treatment systems reviewed were unable to provide total treatment as each system has its unique strength in removing a group of targeted pollutants. The review revealed that some naturally occurring materials such as Moringa oleifera, sawdust, can be used to remove targeted pollutants in greywater. The study further showed that user perceptions towards greywater treatment and reuse were only favourable towards non-potable purposes, mostly due to perceived contamination or lack of trust in the level of treatment offered by the treatment system.

The textile industries are characterized as one of the biggest consumers of potable water and chemical products throughout its process, being responsible for the elevated wastewater generation with intense coloration and wide polluting potential. In this context, the present study proposes the development and application of a new coagulant material for textile wastewater treatment. The proposed coagulant (α-Fe₂O₃-MO) was composed by hematite nanoparticles (α-Fe₂O₃) obtained by a simple non-pollutant methodology, associated with Moringa oleifera (MO) seeds saline extract compounds. Coagulation/flocculation (CF) efficiency was evaluated by removal of physicochemical parameters such as apparent color, turbidity, and compounds with absorption at UV₂₅₄ₙₘ (UV₂₅₄ₙₘ) through CF tests carried out on Jar test equipment and sedimentation carried out in the presence and absence of external magnetic field (600 k Am⁻¹). Kinetics sedimentation was from 0 to 90 min. The use of this new coagulant allowed the removal of 92.37% for apparent color, 91.43% for turbidity, and 46.09% for UV₂₅₄ₙₘ, indicating that the proposed coagulant association was efficient in the treatment of this type of wastewater under external magnetic field with only 10 min of sedimentation. In addition, the resulting sludge from CF process was tested as base material for a new coagulant synthesis, demonstrating great reuse potential. Therefore, the new proposed coagulant, composed of α-Fe₂O₃ and the compounds present in the seed extract of MO, has applicability for textile wastewater treatment demonstrating high removal rate for all evaluated parameters with cost reduction in the proposed treatment for this wastewater.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of using the byproduct of Moringa oleifera Lam. seeds as an adsorbent for removal of cadmium (Cd) from contaminated water. The material characterization was performed by scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and point of zero charge. The effects of the adsorbent mass, solution pH, contact time, and temperature were evaluated. In the preliminary studies, the mass of adsorbent (200–1200 mg) and pH conditions (5.0, 6.0, and 7.0) were varied. The time studies were performed at 20–180 min and the temperature studies at the range of 25–65 °C. The optimal conditions of adsorption obtained were 400 mg of adsorbent mass, 7.0 pH, and 160 min contact time with the adsorbent. The isotherms of adsorption were linearized according to Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D-R) models. The results showed better fit by the Freundlich and D-R models for Cd adsorption, describing a multilayer adsorption and, according to the value of the sorption energy (E), it has chemical nature. The maximum capacity of adsorption (Q ₘ) obtained was 7.864 mg g⁻¹. For a comparative study, the activated carbon (P.A.) was used applying the same optimal conditions used in the adsorption isotherms and desorption process for the biosorbent, obtaining a Q ₘ as 32.884 mg g⁻¹. The average desorption percentage showed that adsorbents have strong interaction with the metal. Based on these results, it was concluded that the biosorbent was effective in remediation of solutions containing Cd and thus the use of this alternative material is a viable option, since it has low cost and it is a byproduct which has not undergone previous treatment.

Direct ultrafiltration and its combination with pretreatment by coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation using Moringa oleifera as coagulant to treat dairy industry wastewater were investigated. A single-channel tubular ceramic membrane with an average porosity of 0.1 μm was used at transmembrane pressures of 1, 2, and 3 bars, using the cross-flow filtration principle in a membrane filtration unit. Process efficiency was evaluated in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), apparent color, and turbidity removal, along with major requirements such as average permeate flux, percentage of fouling, and contribution of different resistances (resistances in series model) to the total resistance of the membrane. The highest removals for the evaluated parameters occurred in the combined coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation/ultrafiltration process. At a pressure of 2 bar, the removal of turbidity and apparent color was 99.9 % and that of COD was 98.5 %. For the combined process, the lowest percentage of fouling was 59.8 %, which occurred at 1 bar. The fraction of resistance due to fouling, which may indicate irreversible damage of the membrane, was lower in the process of coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation using M. oleifera as coagulant followed by ultrafiltration than in the process that treated dairy wastewater with direct ultrafiltration for all pressures. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

The study explored the suitability of unfractionated extracts from the seeds of the Moringa oleifera tree as a coagulant for water treatment. The coagulant was obtained by soaking crushed and sieved seeds in a low salinity aqueous solution: a simple and inexpensive alternative to conventional coagulants in settings where specialized expertise and equipment are lacking. The performance of M. oleifera-derived coagulants was quantified in terms of turbidity removal, bacteriophage clearance, concentration of residual organics, as well as meta-parameters such as floc size and fractal dimension. Treating high turbidity clay suspensions at the optimal coagulant dosage (14.7 mg(DOC)/L) and flocculation mixing conditions ([Formula: see text]= 22.4 s⁻¹) removed > 94% of turbidity, similar to that recorded in reference tests with alum. Floc size distribution shifted to larger sizes during the first 10 min of flocculation with no change afterwards, while the floc fractal dimension, [Formula: see text], continued to increase, pointing to the gradual formation of denser ([Formula: see text]= 2.1 to 2.2), more settleable flocs. Preliminary tests with MS2 bacteriophage showed that coagulation with M. oleifera decreased the viable MS2 titre by ~ 1.3 log, which was significantly above the turbidity removal (~ 1 log). The extraction process, however, allowed a large amount of residual organics (> 78% of extracted DOC) into the treated water. Combining the coagulants with downstream filtration and adsorption, employing UV or solar disinfection, or limiting applications to non-potable reuse is suggested for mitigating the concerns related to residual DOC.

This study evaluated the protective potentials of Moringa oleifera leaf alcoholic extract (MOLE) against bisphenol A (BPA)-induced stomach ulceration and inflammation in rats. Control rats received olive oil. Second group administered MOLE (200 mg/kg bwt) by oral gavage. Third group was given BPA (50 mg/ kg bwt) for 4 weeks. Fourth group administrated BPA and MOLE simultaneously. Fifth group was given MOLE for 4 weeks then administered BPA and MOLE for another 4 weeks. Bisphenol A induced gastric ulceration and decreased the volume of gastric juice, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), reduced glutathione (GSH) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) protein in stomach tissues, while increased the titratable acidity, malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) contents, and caspase-3 and NF‑κB proteins in stomach tissue. However, MOLE ameliorated BPA-induced gastric ulceration and significantly increased the volume of gastric juice, PGE2, GSH and IL-10 contents, SOD activity, and PCNA protein while significantly decreased titratable acidity, MDA, TNF-α and IL-6 contents, and of NF‑κB and caspase-3 proteins in gastric tissue. This study indicated that MOLE protected stomach against BPA-induced gastric injury via its anti-oxidant, anti-apoptotic, and anti-inflammatory activities.

The reduction of the excess fluoride present in groundwater and surface water is of paramount importance to the public supply, given that its excess can trigger various harmful effects on human health, such as dental and skeletal fluorosis. In this context, the objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the defluoridation of groundwater using coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation (C/F/S) process using the natural coagulant Moringa oleifera Lam (MO) followed by ultrafiltration membrane process. C/F/S tests were carried out in a Jar test apparatus with different concentrations of the coagulant and subsequent ultrafiltration in a membrane module. The tests used different initial fluoride concentrations, coagulant dosages, and water samples (distilled, ground, and surface water). Fluoride removal was most effective using 5 ppm of fluoride initial concentration and 5 g/L of MO coagulant dosage; however, an increase in turbidity was observed. The ultrafiltration step was used to improve water quality parameters, and at a pressure of 2 bar, it was obtained 97% of turbidity and color removal and 83% of fluoride removal. Thus, the results obtained applying the combined process of C/F/S followed by ultrafiltration can be considered a promising alternative to defluoridation of groundwater intended for public supply.