**1. Introduction**

Water is a source that is essential for life and is required by almost every living creature. Water source for human being consumption needs to be treated first, due to the contamination by different industrial advancements made over the years. In addition, there is natural contamination by soil erosion and organisms that live in water. Water pollution has contributed to negative environmental and human health impacts [1], and many pollution problems are introduced [2]. Every day, there are thousands of chemicals discharged directly and indirectly into water bodies without further treatment for elimination of the included harmful compounds. Water pollution is a serious problem in the world and needs to be solved. Aluminium sulphate and iron are the chemical coagulant salts used in the conventional method to treat water and wastewater [3, 4], but they have

many drawbacks [4–6]. Therefore, researchers are working hard to find natural alternatives. Heavy metals in water can be hazardous and harmful as they can accumulate in living organism tissue. One of the most toxic and hazardous heavy metals is Cd(II). Industries of pigments, electroplating, plastic, and metal finishing are the main sources for Cd(II) presence in water which might cause kidney damage, high blood pressure, bone fraction, renal disorder, and destruction of red blood cells [7]. There are many techniques to remove Cd(II) from aqueous solutions, such as; ion exchange, chemical precipitation, and membrane separation and adsorption, but some of these methods got several restrictions [8], such as low heavy metal concentrations, not effective and not economical [9]. As a result, the search for appropriate alternative solutions is of great importance. Recently, researchers are paying attention to Cd(II) removal from aqueous solution using adsorbents derived from low-cost tree leaves such as *Moringa oleifera* leaves [10].

Heavy metals present in water are harmful and poisonous and need to be removed from water; using natural biosorbent is one of the solutions. Few studies reported the removal of some heavy metals from water by *Moringa oleifera*.

Copper can be produced from electronics plating, paint manufacturing, wire drawing, copper polishing, and printing operations. The high presence of copper can cause acute toxicity, dizziness, and diarrhoea [11, 12]. It is an important element required by humans in trace amounts, used by the human body for enzyme synthesis and tissue and bone development [13]. However, the presence of copper in excessive amount can be toxic and carcinogenic. The copper can be deposited in the body and can cause some health problems, such as liver and kidney failure, Wilson disease, and gastrointestinal bleeding [11]. The osmoregulatory mechanism of the freshwater animals can be damaged due to the presence of Cu(II) in freshwater resources and aquatic ecosystem. Usually, chemical coagulants with high cost such as aluminium sulphate and activated carbon are used in water treatment [14].

*Moringa oleifera* is a member of the Moringaceae family which is a single genus family of shrubs [1, 2]. It can be found in Malaysia and other tropical countries where it was imported originally from India. It is easy to plant this tree, and it grows in soil or sand, can stand high temperature, and needs less water [15]. *Moringa oleifera* is a multipurpose tree with most of its parts being useful for a number of applications (**Figure 1**). *Moringa oleifera* seeds have been found to be a natural coagulant, flocculant, softener, disinfectant, sludge conditioner in water treatment [16, 17], and heavy metal remover in water and wastewater treatment [11, 16].

*Moringa oleifera* leaves are unique as a good protein supplement; it contains high amounts of minerals. In *Moringa oleifera* leaves, tannins and phytates are present with 12 and 21 g/kg on a dry basis, respectively [18]. It contains 38.6% carbohydrate, 27.2% protein, and 17.1% fat on a dry basis. It contains 2098 mg calcium, 1922 mg potassium, 406 mg magnesium, 351.1 mg phosphor, 28.3 mg iron, and 5.4 mg zinc in each 100 gm of dry extracted leaves [19] and around 0.58–0.73 g of different proteins/g leaves dry weight [20]. Flavonoids and phenolic acids are found in *Moringa oleifera* leaves by HPLC analysis [21]. *Moringa oleifera* leaves are a rich source of vitamins [22].

*Moringa oleifera* seeds, leaves, husks, or press cake can remove heavy metals from water such as Cu, Cd, Pb, Fe, and Cr which will be covered in this chapter.

Microbial biomass is one of the effective natural materials as biosorbent [23], bagasse fly ash (from sugar cane), and peat are agricultural waste materials that can be an effective heavy metal biosorbent [24]. In addition, rice husks and straws [25],

**265**

**2.1 Seeds**

**Figure 1.**

*Moringa oleifera tree.*

removal.

*Removal of Heavy Metals from Water and Wastewater Using* Moringa oleifera

corn cobs, soya bean, walnut and cotton seed hull, sawdust, and banana peels [26]

The *Moringa oleifera* tree parts such as seeds or leaves are mainly used to remove

*Moringa oleifera* seeds which are not harmful to human and do not have significant drawbacks have been applied for wastewater treatment [4–6]. The seeds showed natural coagulation activity which is similar and even better than alu-

The seed oil is extracted by different methods either by solvent (cake residue) or by mechanical press (press cake). Both seed extracts were used in heavy metal

Cake residue preparation: method (a): the seed husks are removed manually, the kernel is ground, and the kernel powder is then mixed with ethanol and mixed using a magnetic stirrer for 30 min. The mixture is then centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 min. The residual solid (seed cake) was dried at room temperature for 24 h [3]. The stock preparation was prepared with different concentrations: 10,000,

are good examples for alternative biosorbents.

heavy metals from river water or wastewater in this chapter.

**2. Materials and methods**

minium sulphate (alum) [27, 28].

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89769*

*Removal of Heavy Metals from Water and Wastewater Using* Moringa oleifera *DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89769*

**Figure 1.** *Moringa oleifera tree.*

*Trace Metals in the Environment - New Approaches and Recent Advances*

many drawbacks [4–6]. Therefore, researchers are working hard to find natural alternatives. Heavy metals in water can be hazardous and harmful as they can accumulate in living organism tissue. One of the most toxic and hazardous heavy metals is Cd(II). Industries of pigments, electroplating, plastic, and metal finishing are the main sources for Cd(II) presence in water which might cause kidney damage, high blood pressure, bone fraction, renal disorder, and destruction of red blood cells [7]. There are many techniques to remove Cd(II) from aqueous solutions, such as; ion exchange, chemical precipitation, and membrane separation and adsorption, but some of these methods got several restrictions [8], such as low heavy metal concentrations, not effective and not economical [9]. As a result, the search for appropriate alternative solutions is of great importance. Recently, researchers are paying attention to Cd(II) removal from aqueous solution using adsorbents derived from low-cost tree leaves such as *Moringa oleifera*

Heavy metals present in water are harmful and poisonous and need to be removed from water; using natural biosorbent is one of the solutions. Few studies reported the removal of some heavy metals from water by *Moringa oleifera*.

Copper can be produced from electronics plating, paint manufacturing, wire drawing, copper polishing, and printing operations. The high presence of copper can cause acute toxicity, dizziness, and diarrhoea [11, 12]. It is an important element required by humans in trace amounts, used by the human body for enzyme synthesis and tissue and bone development [13]. However, the presence of copper in excessive amount can be toxic and carcinogenic. The copper can be deposited in the body and can cause some health problems, such as liver and kidney failure, Wilson disease, and gastrointestinal bleeding [11]. The osmoregulatory mechanism of the freshwater animals can be damaged due to the presence of Cu(II) in freshwater resources and aquatic ecosystem. Usually, chemical coagulants with high cost such as aluminium sulphate and activated carbon are used in water

*Moringa oleifera* is a member of the Moringaceae family which is a single genus family of shrubs [1, 2]. It can be found in Malaysia and other tropical countries where it was imported originally from India. It is easy to plant this tree, and it grows in soil or sand, can stand high temperature, and needs less water [15]. *Moringa oleifera* is a multipurpose tree with most of its parts being useful for a number of applications (**Figure 1**). *Moringa oleifera* seeds have been found to be a natural coagulant, flocculant, softener, disinfectant, sludge conditioner in water treatment [16, 17], and heavy metal remover in water and wastewater treatment

*Moringa oleifera* leaves are unique as a good protein supplement; it contains high amounts of minerals. In *Moringa oleifera* leaves, tannins and phytates are present with 12 and 21 g/kg on a dry basis, respectively [18]. It contains 38.6% carbohydrate, 27.2% protein, and 17.1% fat on a dry basis. It contains 2098 mg calcium, 1922 mg potassium, 406 mg magnesium, 351.1 mg phosphor, 28.3 mg iron, and 5.4 mg zinc in each 100 gm of dry extracted leaves [19] and around 0.58–0.73 g of different proteins/g leaves dry weight [20]. Flavonoids and phenolic acids are found in *Moringa oleifera* leaves by HPLC analysis [21]. *Moringa oleifera* leaves are a rich

*Moringa oleifera* seeds, leaves, husks, or press cake can remove heavy metals from water such as Cu, Cd, Pb, Fe, and Cr which will be covered in this chapter. Microbial biomass is one of the effective natural materials as biosorbent [23], bagasse fly ash (from sugar cane), and peat are agricultural waste materials that can be an effective heavy metal biosorbent [24]. In addition, rice husks and straws [25],

**264**

leaves [10].

treatment [14].

[11, 16].

source of vitamins [22].

corn cobs, soya bean, walnut and cotton seed hull, sawdust, and banana peels [26] are good examples for alternative biosorbents.
