this mother-in-law’s tongueThree-banded Sansevieria) It gets its name from its long, curved leaves, which in the Caribbean are considered a mocking reference to mothers-in-law who criticize their children’s partners.According to him Feng Shui – The ancient Chinese philosophical system is based on occupying space consciously and harmoniously to ensure that it has a positive impact on the people occupying it – This plant native to Africa is ideal for attracting money, prosperity and good energy.
In terms of its medicinal properties, it helps heal wounds, reduce headaches and migraines, lower blood sugar levels, relieve kidney problems, fight respiratory inflammation and prevent cancer, and also has laxative properties.
In itself, lily(white lily) It is used as a home remedy to improve ailments such as flu, colds, asthma, bronchitis, stomach pain, insomnia, fluid retention, and constipation. In addition, it strengthens the scalp and eliminates impurities and bacteria as it has the same functions as astringent lotions, helping to keep the skin hydrated and can be used in body massage oils.
Considering the properties of lilies as purifiers of harmful compounds, toxin eliminators (detoxification) and natural detergents, as well as the properties of mother-in-law’s tongue as an oxygenator of water, students Ana María Amaya Gámez, Andrés David Ochoa Avendaño, José Carlos Pedrozo Carmona and Zahoris Daza Ortiz, Department of Bioengineering, National University of Colombia (UNAL) La Paz Headquarters, They tested extracts from these plants in the laboratory to find alternatives for purifying the Cesar River.
The process carried out includes maceration and filtration of plant species. Photo: Bioengineering students at UNAL headquarters in La Paz.
The river is the main water tributary of the province, with a length of approximately 280 kilometers from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to the mouth of the Magdalena River, although it has played a fundamental role in the development of riverside cities, such as agriculture , fisheries, trawl material development and livestock farming also bear the brunt as they receive wastewater causing damage to ecosystems.
According to Valledupar Environmental Protection Group, one of the main pollution loads on the river comes from the sewage system (which contains water from toilets, kitchens, showers and laundry) and others such as the Salguero Oxidation Lagoon and La Paz City..
Professor Diana Rojas, a physical engineer at UNAL headquarters in La Paz, explains: “We are looking for ways to obtain cleaner wastewater, even after standardized treatment by the responsible entities, which includes the application of a series of processes. Physical, chemical and biological methods are used to eliminate pollutants produced by human activities or other uses in water.
“The goal of the project is to have good water quality and protect the biodiversity of aquatic habitats, eliminating waste without creating secondary pollution that may arise from the substances used,” he noted.
In this regard, student Pedrozo emphasized: “It’s not about making the wastewater drinkable, it’s about converting the landfill into an environment suitable for good natural development of the ecosystem without contamination, but cannot make it drinkable, as this would require more in-depth research. “
process
In this work, the young researchers collected contaminated water samples from various locations in Cesar, including La Paz and Manaul, and looked at them under a microscope, demonstrating the presence of parasites and other microorganisms .
In the test, they used 4 ml of lily leaf extract and 20 ml of mother-in-law’s tongue. The process used is maceration, which involves bringing the ground plant into contact with a solvent., in this case water at room temperature. They then obtain the natural extract through maceration and liquefaction, the result of which is filtered three times.
Before, They performed a photocatalytic process (a reaction involving the absorption of light by a catalyst or substrate) went like this: They weighed 1 gram of titanium dioxide, added it to the sample in a plastic container, and left it in the sun for 20 hours.
“Titanium dioxide is called a catalyst in the process and its role is to use the energy it absorbs to accelerate the water purification process using solar energy, UV rays and ozone. This helps degrade contaminants and can serve as an extra helping hand for extracts, for better cleaning,” the researchers insist.
Then the pH value was used to understand its properties. The results showed that the pH value of mother-in-law’s tongue extract was 5.34 and that of lily was 6.89. They then collected water samples from Manaure and La Paz, as well as pH samples of natural extracts. They then understood its properties through pH values, and the results showed that the pH value of mother-in-law’s tongue extract was 5.34 and that of lily was 6.89. They then measured the pH of water samples from Manaure and La Paz, as well as natural extracts, and obtained water with an alkaline pH of 7, which is neutral.
“This pH value indicates that the water can eventually be consumed, but parameters such as conductivity and oxygenation still need to be determined to correctly determine that the water is drinkable,” student Ochoa noted.