Household Production of Ceramic Water Filters in Western Rajasthan, India

Abstract

--Frustum shaped clay ceramic water filters are being manufactured by the potters of the Thar Desert in India for household use. The clay composite consists of a homogeneous mixture of equal volume of clay and sawdust. A low-cost manual press, to form the clay composite into frustum shape, is developed by the present authors. This article elaborates critical investigation of the specific traditional clay-firing technique used, to achieve the required functionality and material property of the filters. Household based manufacturing of these filters is found to be markedly different from factory based production by firing process. The functional features of the clay ceramic filter, such as microbial filtration rate, flow rate, and compressive strength, are evaluated and presented. An E. coli bacteria removal efficiency of more than 99% is achieved using these clay ceramic water filters. Optimal filtration rates are achieved between ambient temperatures ranging from 30 o C -40 o C.

Manufacturing a Ceramic Water Filter Press for Use in Nigeria

“…A group of researchers [11] in their study described the use of a 30-ton manually operated hydraulic press developed and manufactured by MEC Ltd., India.…”

“…It operates a crankshaft system which allows for the lifting and lowering of the shaft that holds Modelled diagram of the press mould and product [14]. Filter press operated with screw and hydraulic system [11].…”

“…A lever was preferred for the lowering and lifting of the moulds, to the crank (as in the portable PfP press [15]) and the screw (as in [11]) because it makes the filter pressing more cumbersome and time consuming;…”

“…The ceramic filter press machine is the priority piece of equipment required in the production process of ceramic water filters [10,11]. The filter press machine, which is mostly hydraulic operated, is used to form the filters into its shape by the application of pressure to the clay mixture in-between a set of moulds.…”

Use of marble and iron waste additives for enhancing arsenic and E. coli contaminant removal capacity and strength of porous clay ceramic materials for point of use drinking water treatment

“…Plappally has formulated distinct clay-sawdust compositions to prepare simple and potable frustum-shaped ceramic water filters to optimize microbial removal efficiency [22]. In India, very recently, clay-ceramic (CC)-based G-filters were introduced for rural populace of Western Rajasthan, Bihar, and regions of southern India [23]. These clay-fired ceramic filters are investigated to treat heavy metals effectively.…”