Biofilm and Trace Metals Removal from Waste Aqueous Effluent Using Moringa oleifera-Silver Nitrate Microparticles

Abstract

The present research investigated the synthesis of a novel adsorbent by combining Moringa oleifera and silver nitrate (AgNO3). The chemical components of the pre-adsorbent and adsorbent composites were characterized using Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). The equilibrium adsorption capacity (Qe) for Cu, Mn and Fe in DMSH2O adsorbent was 0.04, 0.04 and 0.04 mg/g, respectively, while that for Cu, Mn and Fe for DMSC2H5OH adsorbent was also 0.04, 0.04 and 0.04 mg/g, respectively. The results indicate that the adsorbent was effective in removing Cu more than Mn and Fe from the aqueous salt mixture. Furthermore, the results observed for the biofilm experiment revealed that the M. oleifera-AgNO3 biocidal action was effective in deactivating oxidizable components in the wastewater system after 8 days. T-test of difference=0, at df=12, P<.05 for metal adsorption and t-test of difference=0.04, at df=8, P<.05 for COD removal indicate no statistical significant difference in metals adsorbed and COD removed in the waste stream.  The above findings have demonstrated that the synthesized M. oleifera-AgNO3 adsorbent would be effective in cleaning-up waste streams contaminated with microbes and trace metals.