Performance evaluation of locally produced ceramic filters for household water treatment in Nigeria

This study investigates the production of ceramic water filters from various clay materials and their performances to improve the physical and bacteriological quality of drinking water. Ceramic water filters were prepared by combining clay with sawdust at various ratios. The water absorption rate, flow rate and microbial removal efficiency were analyzed. The results indicated that some clays produced from Ire Ekiti Brown clay at ratio 50:50 and 40:60, Ire Ekiti Red clay at ratio 40:60 and 30:70 and Isan Ekiti Brown clay at ratio 40:60 and 30:70 all have high absorption rates which resulted from the high sawdust content in the mixture; as sawdust possesses high porosity. Also, filters produced ranging from 60:40 to 40:60, 50:50 to 40:60 and 70:30 to 40:60 for Ire Ekiti brown clay sample, Ire Ekiti red clay sample and Igbara Odo Ekiti clay sample respectively and for both Ikere Ekiti white clay and Ara Ekiti clay samples at 40:60 all showed better microbial removal efficiency as they could remove more than 95% of coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli. The Ire Ekiti Brown ceramics filter was considered suitable for producing filter materials based on a recipe combination which varies from 60:40 - 40:60. Ire Ekiti Red and Igbara Odo Ekiti Brown ceramics pot filters both recorded a high flow rate owing to the high porosity of their filter components which is as a result of the higher percentage of the constituents of burn-out material. Of all the ceramic filter produced, 50% to 50% ratio of Igbara odo clay to sawdust gave the best and optimum mix which was found to be highly efficient in the removal of microbes in the water sampled. This research reveals the ability of the ceramic filters made principally from locally available materials (clay and sawdust) for microbial removal in wastewater biotreatment. (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of African Institute of Mathematical Sciences / Next Einstein Initiative.