Performance of ceramic candle water filter made from selected local clays in Uganda

Abstract

The focus of this study was to developa ceramic candle filter using local clay and mahogany saw dust and determine its filtration rate and E-coli removal efficiency. The candle filters were developed using ball clay from Ntawo mixed with mahogany saw dust of particle size less than 1mm. Five different clay- saw dust ratios were used in the production of the filters by weight of 1: 1, 5:4, 5:3, 5:2, and 5:1. The highest porosity of 48.05% was obtained in a filter sample with the highest saw dust proportion (1: 1) while the lowest porosity of 35.12% was obtained in a filter sample with the lowest saw dust proportion (5: l). Higher removal efficiencies of contaminants (99.9%) were observed in filter samples with low saw dust proportion (5:1). Ceramic candle filter (CCF) with clay to saw dust proportion of (5:1) was more effective in reducing turbidity, reduced turbidity to< 1 NTU. The candle filter with the lowest saw dust proportion (5:1) produced the lowest filtrationrate of water (196.43 ml hr-1) and the filter with highest saw dust proportion had the highest filtration rate of water (917.67ml hr-1). From this research, it can be concluded that filters with higher initial filtration rates are more porous than those with low filtration rates. It can also be concluded that the filters were capable of filtering the turbidity of the water and filter samples also decreased the concentrations of microbial contaminants, therefore making the water safe for consumption. Its recommended that further studies be carried on; the effect of grog on cohesive nature of the filter, flow rate of the water, turbidity of water, and total coliform removal of the filter. The effect of the application of colloidal silver on the adsorptive properties of the filter material and consequently on the quality of water should equally be explored.