This work was condcted to assess four different equipments used in processing seeds of Moringa oleifera to produce a coagulant solution to be used in water treatment with the turbidity obtained synthetically. Six coagulant solutions with different types of processing were used in assays of coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation in Jar-Test equipment. The dose of coagulant solution was 500 mg L-1 and the evaluated parameters were turbidity and apparent color. After 30 min of sedimentation, it was clear that the best processes to reduce turbidity and apparent color were the pestle and grinder, respectively, however, in both cases the sieving of the powder was essential in reducing the parameters in question. Using a blender and a mixer the reduction rates of turbidity and apparent color were the lowest. The grinding of the seeds during processing in the grinder and the pestle remove part of the oil present in them, which does not occur when using the blender and mixer, stating that the removal of oil present in the seeds result in a more efficient coagulant solution.
water treatment; natural coagulants; oil extraction; turbidity reduction; apparent color reduction
