Phyllanthus emblica wood an effective bio- resource for potable water softening

An attempt was made to remove the hardness from bore well drinking water collected near sea shore area of Kanyakumari district. About 8 different sample stations were selected in Kanyakumari district. The physico-chemical parameters such as pH, TS, TDS, TSS, acidity, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, total hardness, chloride, sulphate, phosphate, nitrate, fluoride, of the water samples were analyzed according to the standard APHA methodology. The obtained results were compared with water quality standards prescribed by BIS. All the water samples were not much contaminated and fit for domestic purpose except for an increase in few parameters in one of the selected station near the seashore (siluvai nagar). Treatment with Phyllanthus emblica wood reduced the hardness related parameters. 1.5g of wood piece was found to remove 35% of TDS, 82% of calcium, 41% of magnesium and 86% of total hardness from sample S1 in two hours. From the above results it is clear that this wood can be used to treat hard water at house hold level which is contaminated with TDS, Calcium, magnesium and other water related hardness. Ethanolic extract of wood was screened for the presence of potent bioactive phyto compounds using GC-MS analysis and also the antimicrobial activity of the wood was tested against B. subtilis, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and E. coli. Adsorption, chelating nature of wood followed by precipitation process of Amla might have reduced the hardness from drinking water. Hence, this study was conducted to find out the potentiality of Phyllanthus emblica wood in softening hard water. Understanding the mechanism of hard water treatment using the above biological material requires further studies.