The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) have partnered to launch “Operation Clean the Water Bodies,” using advanced technology to address the environmental damage caused by illegal mining, or “galamsey.” Early pilot results show significant improvements in water quality.

This piece explores the feasibility of the technology based largely on available literature and an expert interview.

Coming across at least seven evaluative adjectives in a nearly two-page research news article took me by surprise. Who does this in modern science communication? Groundbreaking, innovative, remarkable, ambitious, significant, similarly impressive, exceptional… yikes! I’d also try to steer clear of discussing the wanton use of jargons. Perhaps a group of scientists were talking to themselves, and a journalist begged to share it with the masses. But I’ll leave this for the linguists to handle.

A day after the news of the 'breakthrough' made its way into portals like B&FT, myjoyonline.com, and graphiconline.com, I did a quick search on UMaT’s website for a simplified version. It seems they weren’t interested, but MIIF did have it on theirs. After getting past the bookesque headline, I was greeted with yet another evaluative adjective: “game changing.” Oops, sorry, I promise I’ll stop!

Making article simpler

I decided to go with the article from graphiconline.com, as it mentioned the agents and the science involved in these results. The article, which lacks a byline, appears to be a news release and seems to have little journalistic input.

My summary

UMaT partners MIIF to clean up illegal mining polluted rivers

The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) are working together to clean up rivers polluted by illegal mining.

They have developed a new technology that can reduce the turbidity and heavy metal content of water. This technology uses natural substances like Moringa and biowaste, as well as other chemicals.

The technology has been tested on the Pra and Bromo rivers in the Western Region. The results have been very promising. They reported a significant reduction in turbidity and pollution levels.

MIIF and UMaT are now planning to use this technology to clean up other polluted rivers in Ghana. They believe it’s a major step towards the fight against illegal mining pollution.

Explaining the scales and measurements

PPM (Parts per Million)

This unit measures the concentration of a substance in a solution. A higher ppm value indicates a higher concentration of that substance.  

Apparent colour

This refers to the visible colour of the water, which can be influenced by suspended particles, pollutants, and other factors. The limits for clear water is 0-15 Hazen units.

Visual representation

Imagine a glass of water. Initially, with an apparent colour reading of 79,738 ppm, the water would likely appear very murky or even opaque due to the high concentration of suspended particles and pollutants.

After the treatment, with a reduced apparent colour of 253 ppm, the water would look significantly clearer and more translucent. While it might not be perfectly crystal clear, the visible difference would be substantial, indicating a significant reduction in the suspended matter that was causing the water's murky appearance.

Total Suspended Solids (TSS)

This measures the amount of suspended particles in water. Higher TSS levels indicate more suspended matter, which can make the water appear murky or cloudy.

Lead contamination

This refers to the concentration of lead in the water. Lead is a harmful pollutant that can have serious health consequences, especially for children.

Visual representation

Imagine two glasses of water. One glass represents the water before treatment with TSS levels at 450 mg/L and lead contamination at 0.51 mg/L. The other glass represents the water after treatment with TSS levels at 25 mg/L and lead contamination at 0.01 mg/L.

The water in the first glass would likely appear much murkier and cloudier due to the higher concentration of suspended particles. After treatment, the water in the second glass would be significantly clearer with fewer visible particles.

While lead contamination is not directly visible to the naked eye, the reduction from 0.51 mg/L to 0.01 mg/L indicates a significant improvement in water quality.

The science

In fact, a reference to this release was made in 2021 in a Citinewsroom.com article titled UMaT develops technology to clear polluted water bodies. In the piece, the Vice-Chancellor of UMaT, Prof. Richard Kwesi Amankwah, speaking in Tarkwa on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, during the Lands and Natural Resources Minister’s tour of some projects executed by the Minerals Development Fund, stated, 'The pollutants will be cleared within a short period of time, as a successful trial has already been completed in Tarkwa.' He was also confident that it would work on a larger scale. Of course, the larger scale turned out to be the Pra and Bromo rivers.

Prof. Amankwah explained the science of the initiative.

“Sometimes particles are big enough to settle on their own but when it happens that these particles are not able to settle on their own, or they are colloidal particles Then you have to neutralize charges and force them to settle, and that is what we are looking to do. So we are just going to introduce some ions that are environmentally friendly, and they will interact with the particles that do not want to settle or cannot settle on their own and force them to settle.”

Think of it like trying to clean a muddy pond. If the dirt particles in the water are big enough, they’ll naturally sink to the bottom on their own, just like heavy objects sink when left in water. But sometimes, the dirt particles are too small and light, almost like dust floating in the air, and they don't settle down or take a very long time to settle.

To make them settle, you need to add something that helps them clump together and fall to the bottom. Imagine you sprinkle something that acts like a magnet, attracting all the floating dust together into bigger clumps that are heavy enough to sink. In this case, the “magnet” is environmentally friendly ions that you add. They neutralize the particles’ charges and force them to settle to the bottom, clearing up the water. An example of such a “magnet” is Aluminium sulphate, commonly called alum, which is classified as an inorganic surface-active agent and is used in many homes in Ghana to purify water.

That's what the process Prof. Amankwah is describing, that is, introducing ions (alum) to help particles that can't settle on their own come together and sink.

In the article, it further states: “The technology pathway involves the application of several organic additives, such as Moringa, biowaste and high molecular weight surface-active agents to reduce the turbidity and metal ion concentration in water.

In addition, inorganic surface-active agents were also used in pilots on the Pra and Bromo rivers, both in the Western Region.”

According to a 1988 publication in the journal Water Research, Moringa oleifera seeds were studied and used for water purification. When crushed into powder and added to water, the seeds help clarify the water by causing suspended particles to sink to the bottom.

A 2019 study explains that Moringa seeds contain proteins that act as natural coagulants, similar to alum. Additionally, other papers, including a 2024 paper published in the African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, highlight their ability to remove bacteria from water.

What about biowaste or agricultural waste like banana peels and corn cobs? These substances have been known to absorb heavy metals such as lead and copper from water, with the added benefit of being low-cost and environmentally friendly.

Essentially, MIIF and UMaT likely combined alum and Moringa seeds to clear the muddiness in the two rivers and may have used banana peel waste or corn cobs to remove heavy metals. Is this so different from what Ghana Water has been doing? Hmm, not really!

Let’s do some maths

According to Operation Clean the Water Bodies project, “the technology helped to improve the turbidity from 3,000 NTU to just 0.5 NTU;

Total Suspended Solids (TSS) decreased from 450 mg/L to 25 mg/L, with lead contamination dropping from 0.51 mg/L to 0.01 mg/L, significantly below WHO standards.

With the River Bromo at Nkroful, where in-situ tests were conducted, turbidity improved from 2,390 NTU to 13 NTU; TSS reduced from 13,400 parts per million (ppm) to less than 0.1 ppm, and apparent colour improved dramatically from 79,738 ppm to 253 ppm.”

Now, let’s juxtapose similar research done in Kenya

In the paper titled: The effectiveness of Moringa Oleifera seed coagulant in reducing the turbidity and modifying the physico-chemical characteristics of water, the results showed that “M. oleifera seed powder leads to reduction of water turbidity from 461 NTU to about 15 NTU within 45 min. The mean water turbidity reduction efficiency was 64%, with a maximum efficiency of 95%.

MIIF/UMaT results, particularly the drastic reductions in turbidity, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and lead concentration, align with the literature on the effectiveness of Moringa seed powder in water treatment.

However, the magnitude of these results (e.g., turbidity reduction from 3,000 NTU to 0.5 NTU) is quite exceptional and, perhaps, warrants further validation against broader research.

Sanitizing muddiness

Many studies widely confirm that Moringa seed powder can effectively reduce water turbidity. For example, a 2009 University of Development Studies research shows that Moringa seed extract can reduce turbidity by 80-99% in different water samples depending on the concentration used and water source.

Additional studies in Ethiopia corroborate these findings, showcasing that even at lower concentrations, it can reduce turbidity by 86.98% in river water samples.

The turbidity reductions in the River Pra (from 3,000 NTU to 0.5 NTU) and River Bromo (2,390 NTU to 13 NTU) are feasible but represent highly efficient outcomes.

Similar reductions have been documented in some studies, example in a Rwandan study, turbidity removal was 88.6% for water with an initial turbidity of 50 NTU and 99.8% for water with 450 NTU.

However, reductions to such low NTU levels (like 0.5 NTU) could be considered on the high end of Moringa’s performance spectrum. The Akans will say, “Anoy3 den kakraa” to wit, a bit unbelievable.

Removing heavy metals and suspended solids

In their release, the reduction of Total Suspended Solids (TSS) from 13,400 ppm to less than 0.1 ppm in the River Bromo, as well as the removal of lead from 0.51 mg/L to 0.01 mg/L, is also remarkable but, yes, believable.

Several studies have shown that Moringa can significantly remove suspended particles and smoke out heavy metals like lead and arsenic. For example, the Kenya study found that Moringa seeds could reduce lead concentrations to safe drinking levels (below WHO standards). However, these results typically show slightly less drastic reductions than those reported for River Pra.

PPM for water colour? Really?

Scientifically, ppm (parts per million) is not directly used to measure the apparent colour of a liquid. It is a unit of concentration used to express the amount of a substance present in a solution or mixture.  The actual measurement is Hazen unit. And for water it ranges from 0 to 15.

What was therefore the change in apparent colour in Hazen units?

The project should therefore come again with the statement that there was “apparent colour” change from 79,738 ppm to 253 ppm.

Feasible?

Operation Clean the Water Bodies project shows stronger results in the lab due to natural variations in water composition and the potential for better optimization of Moringa dosages. Nonetheless, the results from River Pra and River Bromo seem to represent highly successful cases, perhaps benefiting from the specific properties of these water sources and optimized treatment methods.

The project’s outcomes align with other documented case studies but are on the higher end of effectiveness compared to typical reductions seen in research. Literature often shows that achieving near-complete removal of turbidity or metals requires careful optimization and may not always perform as dramatically as described, particularly for such high starting turbidity levels (e.g., 3,000 NTU reduced to 0.5 NTU).

MIIF and UMaT’s results are feasible but reflect near-optimal conditions for Moringa’s performance. While similar reductions in turbidity, TSS, and lead have been observed in the literature, these results are among the more successful case studies. I would, therefore, urge other Ghanaian scientists to repeat the experiment to confirm these findings.

False hope?

In a research published in 2019 in the Journal of Advanced Research in Material Science, the scientists concluded that for the Moringa seeds to properly perform this “dirt-banishing” role, “the oil should be extracted from the seeds before used as a coagulant for water treatment. This is because if oil is extracted from the seeds, the optimum effluent reduction will be achieved.”

Ghana’s Moringa production is estimated to be 554 metric tons or 554,000 kilograms. To put in simpler terms it's the weight of about 360 Toyota corollas. Looking at the extent of this pollution, will this amount suffice? And will Ghana be able to produce Moringa seeds on that high scale and ready to extract the oil for optimal purification of polluted rivers?

As for the banana peels, Perhaps Agogo in the Asante Akyem North District of the Ashanti region of Ghana will come to our aid if their dwindling production is urgently addressed. Corn cob will definitely be our best bet though.

All is well with biowaste?

Biowaste like the corn cobs decompose and in the process consume oxygen in the water, leading to oxygen depletion and potentially creating "dead zones" where aquatic life cannot survive.

Again, decomposition of biowaste releases nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus into the water, leading to excessive algae growth, which can block sunlight and further deplete oxygen when it decomposes.

"The decomposing matter can be a very big problem with a project like this," said Prof. Godfred Darko of the Chemistry Department, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

Furthermore, are they also aware that the decomposing moringa and corn cob can release foul-smelling gases, making the area unpleasant?

And last, do they know visible floating debris and murky water can be unattractive and reduce the recreational value of the water body?

Has the project thought about ways to deal with these likely situations?

Peer-reviewed?

With findings being touted as a breakthrough, I expected to find a journal supporting it, but my investigations have found that, it has not undergone any peer review process yet.

I therefore ask, with the country’s focus on finding evidence-based solutions to clear our water bodies of pollutants, why is there a rush to put it in the public domain?

A household solution for now

Based on my synthesis of available research, it’s evident that Moringa seed extract is an effective natural coagulant capable of significantly reducing turbidity in various water samples.

I side with MIIF/ UMaT’s study that the reduction in turbidity is substantial, ranging from 80% to nearly 99.5%, but of course, it’s dependent on the initial water quality and the concentration of the Moringa seed powder used.

However, Moringa's application is not without challenges. The varying nature of water sources and the requirement for precise dosing call for further research and development to optimize its use in different contexts. Just imagine the extent of pollution and availability of Moringa seed powder.

It's quite unfortunate how my inquiries for the past weeks have yielded no response. It's also very unfortunate how a well-known technology could be repackaged to seem novel and claimed to be feasible on a large scale, when in reality, it’s more of a household solution for now. The adjectives may be numerous, and the science may be sound, but the application is questionable.