This study aims to develop an original filtration device based on a trickle bed technology which permits to treat high gas flow rates while maintaining a constant pressure drop by re-entraining continuously the particles trapped on collectors, thanks to a water film flow. Good results have been obtained for an air flow rate of 20 m 3 /hr, a liquid flow rate of 12 L/min and using glass beads of 5-mm diameter as collectors. Experimental results showed a good mass efficiency (89%) and a pressure drop which stabilizes under clogging unlike that of a granular bed which increases during the clogging. The experiments certifying a stable pressure drop during a few tens of hours let us suppose that these tendencies should be extrapolated to much larger times.

In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were successfully grown on tubular ceramic membranes using the catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) method. CNTs were synthesized at 650°C for 3-6 h under a 120 mL min(-1) flow of C2H6 on ceramic membranes impregnated with iron salt. The synthesis procedure was beforehand optimized in terms of catalyst amount, impregnation duration and reaction temperature, using small pieces of tubular ceramic membranes. The yield, size and structure of the CNTs produced were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis and microscopic imaging techniques. Afterwards, preliminary filtration tests with alginate and phenol were performed on two modified tubular membranes. The results indicate that the addition of CNTs on the membrane material increased the permeability of ceramic membrane and its ability to reject alginate and adsorb phenol, yet decreased its fouling resistance.