ENHANCING WATER SAFETY THROUGH THE USE OF ECOFRIENDLY MATERIALS

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.