Performance of natural disinfectant by moringa oleifera seeds extract on fungal disinfection in water supply / Siti Nur Syazana Binti Zakaria

Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology

Thesis (Master of Science) -- Universiti Malaysia Pahang – 2024

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In recent years, fungal contamination of drinking water has emerged as a significant concern for water quality. Consequently, extensive research has been conducted to explore various disinfection methods. Despite existing technologies, limitations, especially the formation of disinfection by-products, have prompted investigations into alternative approaches. This study focuses on a promising yet relatively unexplored method employing plant-extracted disinfectants to inactivate fungal spores for sustainable disinfection in drinking water distribution systems. The initial phase involves the characterization and mechanism studies of a plant-based antimicrobial agent extracted from Moringa Oleifera seeds, specifically terpenoids. The characteristics, including particle size, composition, textural analysis, and structure of terpenoids, are examined before their introduction into the disinfection process.In the subsequent phase, the terpenoids are mixed with drinking water containing fungi, and the impact of agitation rate, temperature, disinfectant terpenoid concentration, terpenoid-to-fungi volume ratio, and incubation time are systematically investigated. Mechanism and kinetics studies comparing the control fungi with disinfectant terpenoids provide insights into the disinfection process. The optimization of key bio-process parameters is performed to achieve the highest fungal disinfection rate in drinking water distribution systems. The findings reveal that the Moringa Oleifera seed disinfectant effectively reduces fungal growth at specific concentrations. Kinetic observations, conducted through Jar Test experiments, demonstrate a reduction of 2.9-log10 (6.6-ln) for Rhodotorula Mucilaginosa and 0.9-log10 (2.2-ln) for Aspergillus niger. Physical observations under FESEM confirm structural damage to both fungi. This study introduces a novel natural fungal disinfection agent, providing improved microbial process control, cost-effective treatment for fungal disinfection in drinking water distribution systems, enhanced treatment efficiency, and an overall elevation in the quality of drinking water.