EFEKTIFITAS Bill KELOR (Moringa oleifera), Bill SALAK (Salacca zalacca), DAN BIll PEPAYA (Carica papaya) SEBAGAI BAHAN KOAGULAN DALAM MENURUNKAN KEKERUHAN AIR

Abstract

Water purification is typically carried out using chemical coagulants like Tewes. local
name for Aluminum sulfate. In many parts of the world experts are looking into coagulant
materials derived from plants. Among many of them is the Moringa seeds. Moringa seeds
contain water-soluble proteins, when crushed and dissolved in water it will form a positively
charged solution. Electrophoreses Test proved that positively charged solution were also
resulted from the use of Salak seeds and Papaya seed. The purpose of this study was to
analyze the differences in coagulation using Moringa (Moringa oleifera), Salak (Salacca
zalacca), and Papaya seeds (Carica Papaya).
The study was performed in a quasi-experimental set up exercising a pretest-posttest
design. The object for the study was water sample taken from a river used by the community
in kecamatan Krembung for their water source. As much as 1000 ml of river water was used in
each test run. Test containers were treated with natural coagulants. Coagulant materials used
in the tests were Tawas powder, Moringa, Salak, and Papaya seeds at a dose-series of 50 ppm
to 1000 ppm. The resulted data were analyzed using Kruskal - Wallis Test.
There was a significant difference with regard to optimal dose of the natural coagulants
as well as the percentage of turbidity reduction. The optimal dose for Moringa seeds was 130
ppm with a percentage of reduction at 97,3% that reduced turbidity down to 2.7 NTU. The
optimal dose for Salak seeds was 100 ppm that resulted in a percentage reduction of 89,2%
and reduced the turbidity down to 10.9 NTU. The optimal dose for Papaya seeds was 50 ppm
with a percentage of decline at 83,4% reducing the turbidity down to 16,7 NTU. Moringa
seeds coagulant has maximum turbidity reducing capability, while the other two natural
coagulants, Salak and Papaya seeds, were not in their maximum levels of turbidity reducing
capabilities.
At a dose of 200 ppm Moringa seeds exhibited a greater ability as a coagulant in
lowering water turbidity compared to the other natural coagulants, Salak seeds at a dose of
100 ppm and Papaya seeds at a dose of 50 ppm. The study concluded that Moringa seeds can
be applied as a substitute for chemical coagulants provided they are used within 1 x 24 hours.
Key Words : Turbidity and Coagulant