Fabrication of a Cost Effective Ceramic Microfiltration Membrane by Utilizing Local Kashmir Clay

In this work, we have reported the preparation of a flat circular ceramic membrane (53 mm diameter and 5 mm thick) by paste casting method from locally available Kashmir clay. The membrane was obtained by sintering the clay disc at 850(o)C for 5 h. The raw material and the membrane were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), porosity, and pure water permeability. The XRF and XRD analysis of the clay confirmed the presence of components required for ceramic membrane preparation. Average pore size, apparent porosity, and pure water permeability of the membrane was obtained as 5.88 mu m, 24.30%, and 0.9865 l.m(-2).h(-1).kPa(-1), respectively. Chemical stability was carried out by keeping the membrane in HCl (pH=1) and NaOH (pH=14) solutions for one week. The prepared membrane showed excellent chemical resistance in both the media. The overall fabrication cost of the membrane was estimated as 301 $/m(2). These results indicate that the clay used in this work could serve as an alternative raw material to kaolin based ceramic microfiltration membranes for cheaper use in different chemical and biochemical processes.