Evaluation of the Efficiency of Ceramic Water Filter Improved by Dried Duckweed Plant (Lemna minor) in Wastewater Treatment

The lack of clean water sources due to pollution and industrialisation is a major problem in many countries including Nigeria. To overcome this challenge, various methods have been adopted including phytoremediation treatment. This study evaluates dried duckweed an aquatic plant and its removal efficiency in comparison with other locally available treatment materials. This was achieved by formulating ceramic water filters (C.W.F) categorized into four different types- clay and kaolin(P1), clay, kaolin and sawdust(P2), clay, kaolin and charcoal(P3) and clay, kaolin and duckweed(P4). These filters were subjected to contaminated water and the following physicochemical parameters Colour, pH, Conductivity(Ec), Fluoride(F-), Magnesium(Mg2+), Nitrites(NO2-), Sulphates (SO42-), Ammonia (NH3) and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Total Nitrogen were determined before and after filtration. In all the ceramic water filters, the filter improved by duckweed showed the best removal efficiency of Colour – 100%, Conductivity(Ec) -72.60%, Fluoride(F)- 99.82%, Magnesium(Mg2+)- 51.68% Nitrites(NO2-)-92.34, Sulphates (SO42-)- 46.09%, Ammonia (NH3)-98.75%, and Total Suspended Solids (TSS)- 85.43% and Total Nitrogen (TN) -83.79% indicating that duckweed is capable of adsorbing inorganic and organic pollutants from water.

Effect of the Ceramic Burning Temperature on the Characteristics of the Emission Spectrum (LIBS) of Al and Transmittance (FTIR) of Al-O on Ceramic Body of BL-1 Type

Aluminum (Al) contained in materials such as clay, kaolin is one of the elements that play an important role in the ceramic body. Al binds to other atoms like Si (quartz) to form a ceramic frame that is strong and not easily cracked. In addition, the bond with the group -OH plays an important role in relation to the ability of ceramics to absorb water. In this study, BL-1 type ceramic samples have been made with five variations of the burning temperature between 800-1000oC. To determine changes in the Al atomic content of ceramic samples were characterized by LIBS and FTIR spectrophotometers. The results of LIBS characterization of all samples showed two bands with peaks at wavelengths of 394.4 nm (Al-I) and 396.6 nm (Al-II) which are the characteristic peaks of Al atoms. The peaks with the highest intensity of Al-I and Al-II were resulted by samples that were burned at 900oC. Meanwhile, the results of FTIR characterization have shown a spectrum with bands at wavenumbers between 1030-1060 and 1150 cm-1 which are characteristic bands of stretching vibrations from Al-O. The peak of the band in the wavenumber between 1030-1060 cm-1 shifts towards a larger wavenumber with increasing the burning temperature.

(Polyacrylamide-Kaolin) Composite Used For Extraction Precious Metals (Au+1, Ag+1) From Electronic Waste Solution by Using Hydrometallurgical Method

Abstract— In this study, electronic waste solution was prepared by leached amount of waste in dilute aqua regia (1HNO3: 3HCl). Hydrometallurgy method (solvent extraction) used to extract precious metals (Au+1, Ag+1) from electronic waste by added both of mineral clay (kaolin) and (Polyacrylamide-Kaolin) composite as a adsorbent material to e- waste solution under many of different parameters. These parameters are contact time (i.e.30 min, 60 min, and 120 min), weight in volume unit of adsorbent material (i.e. 5, 10 and 20 g.L-1) which are effects on the adsorption capacity and adsorption efficiency of adsorbent material. Results proved that the adsorption (efficiency and capacity) of Polyacrylamide-Kaolin composite relatively increased than kaolin to extract (Au+1, Ag+1) ions from a neutral e-waste solution. According to the curves of adsorption (i.e. efficiency and capacity), the operation condition preferred at contact time and adsorbent material amount which are equal to 60 min and 10 g.L-1 respectively

The effect of pre-existing faults on the development of extensional basins: insights from wet clay experiments

<p><span>Most of the present-day extensional systems formed in areas that already experienced an older phase of tectonic activity. Therefore, understanding how a pre-existing structural setting may affect the development of an extensional basin is a crucial interplay to decipher. Depending on the kinematics of these phases, the resulting inherited faults can be extensional, contractional, or transcurrent. Consequently, a new extensional basin forms atop or across pre-existing faults that can dip at a low- (e.g., inherited thrust faults) or high-angle (e.g., inherited extensional faults). Furthermore, the inherited structures can have a non-optimal attitude with respect to the new extensional stress field, thereby determining different instances for reactivation. In this study, we analyzed the impact of dip and strike of inherited faults on the development of an extensional basin using wet clay (kaolin) analogue modeling. We reproduced sixteen different setups by varying the dip (30°, 45°, 60°) and the strike (15°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°) of the pre-existing faults that we introduced in the experiments before applying extension. The results show that the orientation of pre-existing faults has a direct effect onto the shape of the new extensional basins. When the pre-existing faults are reused to accommodate the new extensional phase, the formed basins are asymmetric and the rate of growth of the new faults is lower.</span></p>

Recovery of cutting oil from wastewater by pervaporation process using natural clay modified PVA membrane

In this study, the pervaporative dehydration of the cutting oil ‘diethylene glycol’ (DEG) through a hydrophilic PVA membrane was investigated at various operation temperatures in the range of 333–363 K with a feed mixture containing 0.5–2.0 wt% water. The pervaporation (PV) performance of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) is enhanced by the addition of natural clay kaolin into the pristine membrane. The thermal stability of the membranes was analyzed by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The morphological analysis of the membranes was performed by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Separation success was determined by calculation of flux, selectivity, and PSI. These values were investigated as functions of the clay amount, feed concentration and feed temperature. The obtained results show that PV is an effective method for recycling waste cutting oil from wastewater.

A novel geopolymer route to porous carbon: high CO2 adsorption capacity

We report the synthesis of porous carbon through a novel geopolymer route, starting from natural clay kaolin.

The Influence of Microstructure, Temperature and Sintering Level on Electric Properties of Electrical Insulators Obtained from Raw Materials of Rio Grande do Norte - Brazil

The technical porcelain is usually obtained by mixing different raw materials, which are generally clay, kaolin, quartz, and a fluxing agent, in appropriate amounts. These porcelains are used in the production of electric and electronic devices for several applications, ranging from high and low power capacitors to low, medium, high and extra high voltage insulators. In this work, we studied technological properties of dielectric porcelain, obtained from raw materials found in large quantities and excellent quality in the Rio Grande do Norte state in Brazil. Test samples were produced by powder technology for two different compositions: composition A (20% clay, 28% kaolin, 32% feldspar and 20% quartz) and composition B (15% clay, 31% kaolin, 33% feldspar and 21% quartz), and sintered at temperatures, T1=1150°C, T2=1200°C, T3=1250°C, T4=1300°C and T5=1350°C with isotherms P1=0.5 hours, P2=1 hour, P3=1.5 hours and P4=2 hours. Then after sintered, the sample microstructure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and analysis of dielectric strength with direct and alternating voltage. The best results for electrical properties were obtained in temperature of 1250oC for composition A, and confirms the electrotechnical porcelain production feasibility.

Evaluation of the Potential of Using Quartzite Residue in Mass for the Production of Sanitary Ware

Currently there is a great concern on the part of the industries with the disposal of waste generated in the production process. The quartzite processing industry generates significant amount of residue, consisting primarily of quartz. The aim of this work is to evaluate the incorporation of quartzite residue, replacing partially the quartz and feldspar, in ceramic mass used in the production of sanitary ware. The raw materials were characterized by chemical and particle size analysis. Compositions were formulated by varying the amount of residue and comparing with an industrial mass, consisted of clay, kaolin, feldspar and quartz. The slip casting process was used in the preparation of the specimens. The results showed that the residue can be considered as an alternative raw material for use in sanitary ware industry, since the ceramic slip presented appropriate rheological properties and after firing process the specimens presented physical and mechanical properties according to the specifications.