Development And Filtration Performance of Ceramic Filters from Ikot Ebom Clay

Abstract

This research used the hand impress moulding method to prepare ceramic filter pots using 500 μm sieved clay, grog, and melon shell in three ratios of 70:5:25, 75:5:20, and 80:5:15, respectively. The pot models were dimensioned to 50 mm height, 52 mm outer diameter, and 10 mm thickness and fired to 650°C, 700°C, and 750°C. The volume of effluent, flow rate, and microbial removal efficiency were studied. From the results, filter pot 70:5:25 fired to 750°C recorded an efficiency of 99.9% removal of heterogenic bacteria count, total fungi count, total coliform, and E.coli, and has the best combination of flow rate and removal efficiency. This filter pot was seen to meet up with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Minitab analyses show a significant effect of material composition over fired temperature on the flow rate.

Keywords

• water filtration
• porosity
• ceramic
• filter pot