TITLE:
Synthesis and Characterization of Pure and Ag-TiO2-Modified Diatomaceous Aluminosilicate Ceramic Membranes for Water Remediation
AUTHORS:
Emmanuel Ajenifuja, John Adegbindin Ajao, Samson Oluwagbemiga Alayande, Mufutau Kolawole Bakare, Bidini Alade Taleatu, Ezekiel O. B. Ajayi
KEYWORDS:
PIXE, Ceramics, Titanium Oxide, Remediation, Membranes, Anti-Microbial
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Water Resource and Protection,
Vol.8 No.5,
May
20,
2016
ABSTRACT: Mesoporous ceramic membranes were prepared from raw and modified
diatomaceous earth alumi-nosilicate mineral precursors. The main modification
component of the ceramic membranes was Ag-loaded TiO2 nanoparticles
(STOX). Chemical and microstructural characterizations of the raw materials and
the modified precursors were carried out using Fourier Transform Infrared
(FTIR) Spectroscopy, Particle Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE-IBA), Energy
Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The
precursors and membranes were prepared and subsequently subjected to a high
temperature sintering treatment for physico-chemical modification and
stability. Remediation functionalities of the ceramic membranes on water
samples were studied using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), Total
Bacterial Count Enumeration; Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), pH, and
Electroconductivity (EC). Remediation experiments showed reductions in the concentration of certain
cations such as Mg2+, Mn2+, Cd2+, Ni2+ and K+ by the modified ceramic membrane samples, while increased
concentrations were observed for Ca2+, Na+ and Mg2+. The antimicrobial microfiltration process showed 100% bacterial removal
and 70% fungi removal in most of the samples. Membranes exhibited good flux
output from 5.607 L/hr·m2 (STOX-Z) to 39.245 L/hr·m2 (ZEO-T)
under a pressure of 0.0196 MPa.