TY - JOUR
T1 - Ceramic Filters for the Efficient Removal of Azo Dyes and Pathogens in Water
AU - Oaikhena, Marvellous
AU - Oluwalana-Sanusi, Abimbola E.
AU - Mokoena, Puseletso P.
AU - Mabuba, Nonhlangabezo
AU - Tshabalala, Themba
AU - Chaukura, Nhamo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Overcoming the scarcity of safe and sustainable drinking water, particularly in low-income countries, is one of the key challenges of the 21st century. In these countries, the cost of centralized water treatment facilities is prohibitive. This work examines the application of low-cost ceramic filters as point-of-use (POU) devices for the removal of methylene blue, o-toluidine blue, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus typhi from contaminated water. The ceramic filters had typical kaolinite functional groups, making them suitable for the removal of dyes and pathogens. Surface charge measurements indicated strongly anionic filters, while thermal properties confirmed the carbonization of the biowaste additive leaving behind a porous kaolinite structure which subsequently dehydroxylated into meta kaolinite. In addition, morphological data showed heterogeneous filter surfaces. Increased biomass content improved the permeability, water adsorption, flow rate, and apparent porosity of the filter. The ceramic filter removed methylene blue (42.99–59.74%), o-toluidine (79.95–92.71%), Staphylococcus aureus (98–100%), and Staphylococcus typhi (75–100%). Overall, the study demonstrated the effectiveness of POU ceramic filters in removing organic pollutants in contaminated water while serving as disinfectants.
AB - Overcoming the scarcity of safe and sustainable drinking water, particularly in low-income countries, is one of the key challenges of the 21st century. In these countries, the cost of centralized water treatment facilities is prohibitive. This work examines the application of low-cost ceramic filters as point-of-use (POU) devices for the removal of methylene blue, o-toluidine blue, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus typhi from contaminated water. The ceramic filters had typical kaolinite functional groups, making them suitable for the removal of dyes and pathogens. Surface charge measurements indicated strongly anionic filters, while thermal properties confirmed the carbonization of the biowaste additive leaving behind a porous kaolinite structure which subsequently dehydroxylated into meta kaolinite. In addition, morphological data showed heterogeneous filter surfaces. Increased biomass content improved the permeability, water adsorption, flow rate, and apparent porosity of the filter. The ceramic filter removed methylene blue (42.99–59.74%), o-toluidine (79.95–92.71%), Staphylococcus aureus (98–100%), and Staphylococcus typhi (75–100%). Overall, the study demonstrated the effectiveness of POU ceramic filters in removing organic pollutants in contaminated water while serving as disinfectants.
KW - biowaste
KW - clay
KW - environmental pollution
KW - filtration
KW - water flow rate
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85180663371&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/ceramics6040131
DO - 10.3390/ceramics6040131
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85180663371
SN - 2571-6131
VL - 6
SP - 2134
EP - 2147
JO - Ceramics
JF - Ceramics
IS - 4
ER -
