Fabrication, Characterization and Removal of Methyl Orange, Chromium (Cr) and Lead (Pb) in Aqueous Solutions by Low‐Cost Clay/Macadamia Nutshell Powder Ceramic Filters

Abstract

Producing drinking water from polluted water is expensive; thus, the fabrication of environmentally‐friendly and cost‐effective materials to treat polluted water is vital. A strategy involving the exploitation of waste resources to mitigate their impact on the environment has attracted special attention. This strategy is achievable by, among other things, developing materials including ceramic filters. In this study, natural clay, and macadamia nutshell powder were used to fabricate ceramic filters to remove methyl orange (MO), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) from aqueous solutions. The physicochemical characteristics of the fabricated filters were carried out and their ability to remove the pollutants was investigated. The filter with 20 wt% macadamia nutshell powder (M2) removed 92 %, 62 %, and 29 % of MO, Pb (II), and Cr (III), respectively. This was attributable to the high porosity of the filter as demonstrated by Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller analysis. Furthermore, there was an increase on the removal of Cr (29.71 % to 84.5 %) in the presence of other competing co‐metals, however, a drop in Pb removed was observed (62.99 % to 38.67 %). Turbidity removal of up to 97.2 % was achieved using the M2 filter. The reported filter fabrication approach is facile, easy to replicate without special training, and environmentally friendly.

Low-Cost Antibacterial Ceramic Water Filters for Decentralized Water Treatment: Advances and Practical Applications

“…These materials include clay and combustible materials, such as rice husk, sawdust, leaves, and used papers. For example, ceramic filter has been fabricated from clay and nutshell powder, which are low-cost materials . Asante-Kyei et al used Akutuase clay, sawdust, and rice husks as local materials for filter production .…”

“…For example, ceramic filter has been fabricated from clay and nutshell powder, which are low-cost materials. 62 Asante-Kyei et al used Akutuase clay, sawdust, and rice husks as local materials for filter production. 63 Another study by Rashad et al utilized low-cost materials such as Aswan ball clay, Aswan kaolin, and a mixture of clay, potash feldspar, and quartz.…”