Synthesis and characterization of low-cost ceramic membranes using red mud from the eastern Amazon as waste from the Bayer process

Abstract

This research presents the development and characterization of ceramic membranes from a mixture of Red Mud and Clay. Characterized as for the Apparent Porosity (AP), Water Absorption (WA), Linear Retraction (LR), Apparent Density (AD), Pore Distribution, Hydraulic Permeability and Rejection to a solute of interest. XRD, SEM / EDS, and Rietveld Technique were used to characterize the raw materials. The composition L35A65 shows the best results, with WA = 29.55 ± 0.2, AP = 44.72 ± 0.62, AD = 1.5 ± 0.01, LR =1.67 ± 0.0, mean diameter of pores equal to 0.418µm and hydraulic permeability, Lp = 721.4 Lh/m2.bar. The rejection for yeasts was 99.9% and for starch was 96.8%.