Development of Ceramic Candle Filter from Alkaleri Kaolin, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Despite the abundant raw materials for the production of candle filters
for water filtration, yet candle filters are still imported into the country
due to lack of awareness and inadequate engineering equipment need
to explore candle filters production from local raw materials, making
candle filters expensive beyond the reach of the ordinary man. This
work aims at developing an effective ceramic water filter candle from
locally available materials: grog, clay, and sawdust. The slip casting
method of production was used to form candle shape and subjected to
atmospheric drying. The samples/materials were formulated and
subjected to physical analysis to determine some parameters and
found that the compounded ceramic samples were effective in
treatment of water. The filtered water quality was compared with the
unfiltered water. The results showed that the filter was very effective
in removing suspended particles, coloured dissolved substances,
unsavoury odours and taste. The effect of influencing parameters such
as firing temperature, clay/sawdust ratio and silver nitrate content
were studied. The results generally showed that the clay/sawdust ratio
had the greatest effect on the flow rate response. There was a high
percentage removal of total dissolved solids of 75% and turbidity
removal of 92%. The filters had a hydraulic conductivity of 0.28-0.55
cm/h which showed that the lesser the quantity of sawdust in the filter,
the slower the hydraulic conductivity.