A Novel Water Filtration System Using M. Oleifera and Coconut Shell-Activated Carbon

Overview

An increase in the prevalence of waterborne bacterial diseases has remained evident with examples such as Legionella contamination of Houston Ben Taub Hospital’s water supply and Burkholderia pseudomallei detection along the Gulf Coast region of Southern Mississippi. Water contaminants (i.e. toxic heavy metals and bacteria) have detrimental effects on the environment and lead to life-threatening health issues. Furthermore, the CDC reports that 2 billion people globally lack access to clean drinking water in their homes, making it imperative for improved access to affordable, efficient water filtration systems. This study is a continuation of previous work that demonstrated the complete efficacy of the two-stage moringa seed and coconut shell activated carbon (CSAC) filtration system in removing bacteria and heavy metals from polluted water. In Year 2, this method of purification was converted into a filtration system, which included a moringa pod and a compact CSAC filter. The goal was to review the two-stage filtration system’s 100% pollutant efficacy, determine the time interval of filtration/disinfection, and observe the purified water’s effect on the life sustenance of Daphnia magna - ensuring the water is nontoxic and drinkable. To test this, the two-stage water disinfection device was constructed with a dialysis bag containing 2.5g of Moringa Seed Powder and the compact CSAC filter. This final filtration system was tested using simulated polluted water and samples from the Elm Fork of the Trinity River. Results demonstrated 100% removal of heavy metals and bacterial growth was inhibited for 36 hours as assessed by CFU counts. The toxicity of the water was then determined by measuring the heart rate of Daphnia magna over a 48-hour time period. The heart rates remained relatively constant at an average of 192 bpm over the time period, revealing that the filtered water was nontoxic. To validate these findings, the assessment of solid content was conducted through the utilization of a Total Dissolved Solids Meter, which yielded a measurement of 108 parts per million (ppm). The reading was within the range for potable water quality standards as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This novel, affordable heavy metal and bacterial water filtration device — 15 times cheaper than conventional portable methods — can be applied to provide critical access to potable water worldwide.

Competition history

• AJAS 2024 Category not listed

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