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Processing and Characterization of Low-Thermal Conductivity, Clay-Based, Ceramic Membranes for Filtering Drinking Water

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2024

Mohamed Mouafon ,
Gisèle Laure Lecomte-Nana ,
Nicolas Tessier-Doyen ,
André Njoya ,
Dayirou Njoya  and
Daniel Njopwouo
Mohamed Mouafon
Affiliation:
Applied Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O Box, 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Gisèle Laure Lecomte-Nana
Affiliation:
Research Institute on Ceramics, University of Limoges, CEC, 12 Rue Atlantis, 87068 Limoges, France
Nicolas Tessier-Doyen
Affiliation:
Research Institute on Ceramics, University of Limoges, CEC, 12 Rue Atlantis, 87068 Limoges, France
André Njoya
Affiliation:
Institute of Fine Arts of Foumban, University of Dschang, BP: 31, Foumban, Cameroon
Dayirou Njoya*
Affiliation:
Applied Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O Box, 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
Daniel Njopwouo
Affiliation:
Applied Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O Box, 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
*
*E-mail address of corresponding author: dayirou2000@yahoo.fr
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Abstract

Drinking-water supply remains a significant challenge in tropical areas; to help meet this challenge, the purpose of the present study was to manufacture low-thermal conductivity ceramic membranes suitable for the retention/removal of particles found in non-potable water. These membranes with significant chemical and mechanical resistances were developed from Cameroonian clays, cassava starch, and bovine bone ash. Up to 30% of Cassava starch and bovine bone ash were added to the membrane as porogens (materials used to make pores in membranes). Membranes were manufactured by uniaxial pressing, drying at 105°C, and sintering at 1150°C for 2 h. The effects of various types of porogen on the thermal behavior, microstructure, flexural strength, porosity, and permeability of ceramic membranes were investigated to determine possible applications of those membranes for water filtration in the tropics. The thermal conductivity of membranes produced without a pore-forming agent (SM0) was greater (0.54 Wm–1K–1) than those produced with starch (SM1 and SM3) (0.45–0.40 Wm–1K–1) or bovine bone ash (SM2) (0.49 Wm–1K–1). The total porosity of SM0s (30.72%) was less than those of starch and bovine bone membranes (37.87–45.99%). The average pore size (0.04 μm) of SM2 membranes was the smallest: SM0 (0.09 μm), SM1 (0.10 μm), and SM3 (0.07 μm). The maximum pore size was 0.37 μm, indicating that membranes contain mesopores and macropores. The flexural strengths of SM1 and SM3 membranes (8.85 and 6.97 MPa, respectively) were less than those of SM2 (10.53 MPa) and SM0 (10.28 MPa), and water permeability from 108 L/h·m2 bar to 2198 L/h·m2 bar. Filtered water properties showed that pH values were upgraded from 5.9 to 7, the turbidity reduction rates and levels were >94% and <0.65 NTU. Particle-size distributions moved from 1150–39,000 nm in polluted water to <2 nm in filtered water. Judging by the sizes of particles present in filtered waters, these membranes may be suitable for elimination of viruses, pigments, proteins, colloids, and bacteria.

Keywords

Ceramic membraneDrinking waterFiltrationFoulingThermal conductivityTropical area
Type
Article
Information
Clays and Clay Minerals , Volume 69 , Issue 3 , June 2021 , pp. 339 - 353
Copyright
Copyright © Clay Minerals Society 2021

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