Abstract:
This pilot study addresses the challenges to water treatment and provision of safe
domestic water supply, mostly for developing countries. In this regard, the study
investigates simple, effective water treatment methods that can benefit underserved
communities and improve the global progress towards achieving SDG6 and its main
targets related to Clean Water and Sanitation. As such, the experimental research of this
preliminary pilot study was conducted to evaluate the application of eco-friendly
adsorbents and coagulants made from banana peels, eggshells, and ovalbumin protein,
for water treatment. The study design analyzed three types of polluted water samples:
synthetic heavy metals solution, well water samples, and E. coli stock solution. The data
analysis was conducted to select the optimum factors/conditions correlated to the
efficiency of the tested eco-adsorbents/coagulants: dosage, contact time, and initial
pollute concentration. The response variables that were studied are (a) (R%), heavy
metals removal rate (b) (TR%), turbidity removal rate (c) E. coli Reduction rate (%).
The overall water quality parameters were evaluated in reference to the WHO
Guidelines for Drinking Water. The statistical tools by Minitab 19 software were used
to interpret the result findings related to the removal of heavy metals and turbidity.
Preliminary pilot study results showed that banana peels and eggshells ecoadsorbents/coagulants achieved desirable chromium and lead removal to levels in
compliance with the WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water. The analysis of heavy
metals showed that about 99.75% chromium removal and 99.95% lead removal could
be attained by raw and carbonized banana peels and eggshells adsorbents. Still, the most
effective eco-adsorbent/coagulant for turbidity removal was the ovalbumin protein. It
reduced the turbidity levels to <5 NTU with minimal impact on the tested physiochemical water quality parameters of color, total dissolved solids, pH, and alkalinity.
Additionally, carbonized eggshells absorbents were effective in turbidity reduction at
low water turbidity levels. The use of carbonized eggshells, on the other hand,
exhibited the highest E. coli bacteria reduction of up to 99%. Thus, based on the
findings of this preliminary pilot study, an eco-adsorbent/coagulant from carbonized
eggshells and ovalbumin protein, could possibly enhance the removal of turbidity,
heavy metals, and pathogenic bacteria. As such, additional studies have to be conducted
with more data and modeling designs to confirm and expand the findings of this study.
In addition, cost-benefit analysis studies are needed to confirm the economic feasibility
and applicability of the use of such eco-adsorbents/coagulants in underserved
communities with limited resources, and under emergency conditions.