Fabrication of low-cost antibacterial microfiltration tubular ceramic membranes

Three tubular ceramic membranes (CMs), F1, F2, and F3, were fabricated by slip-casting using low-cost materials, including Aswan ball clay, Aswan kaolin, and a mixture of clay, potash feldspar, and quartz, respectively, as raw materials. The raw materials and prepared membranes were characterized. The performance of the membranes in turbidity removal from tap water and turbidity and total coliform removal from El-Salam sluiceway was evaluated. F2 (Aswan kaolin membrane) showed the highest turbidity removal from tap water, followed by F3 (mixture of clay, potash feldspar, and quartz). For the El-Salam sluiceway water treatment, F3 showed the highest turbidity removal, followed by F2, and then F1. Among them, F3 was the best membrane for coliform removal, reducing the coliform in the feed from 70 to 14 cfu/100 ml. Thus, F2 is the most suitable tubular CM for antibacterial microfiltration, which exhibited a permeate flux of 22.9 L/m2.h and bacterial removal of 80%. It also exhibited the highest compressive strength (2 MPa), thus it can withstand greater pressure than the other membranes. The antibacterial activity of the ceramic filters was also examined, and the filters showed a good antimicrobial effect on bacteria but not on Aspergillus niger, a fungus.