Suitability of using Ado Ekiti, Akerebiata (Ilorin) and Birni Gwari (Kaduna) Clays for Production of Household Ceramic Water Filter

Y. L. Shuaib-Babata; E. Mudaire; C. E. Egwim

Y. L. Shuaib-Babata Department of Materials & Metallurgical, University of Ilorin, Nigeria
E. Mudaire Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria
C. E. Egwim Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria

Keywords: alumina-silicate, charcoal, purification, rice-husk, sawdust

Abstract

Access to safe water is a great problem faced by the average Nigerian, which has resulted to different forms of diseases. The use of ceramic water filter (CWF) has been found useful and effective to address this problem in some developing countries like Cambodia, Mexico Ghana, Songhai, China and India. This study is aimed at investigating the suitability of some Nigerian clays for production of CWF. Three Nigerian clay samples were obtained from Ado-Ekiti, Akerebiata-Ilorin and Birni-Gwari. The samples were prepared and their physico-chemical properties were analysed. Variety of CWF were produced using each of the clay sample mixed with different combustible and incombustible additives (silica sand, sawdust, rice husk and charcoal) in different proportions. The properties and efficiencies of filters were examined. The results showed that the tested clay samples belong to alumino-silicate group. 20 30 % proportion of addition in the clay-additive generated adequate pores suitable to produce qualitative and quantitative safe water from the developed CWF. The CWF from Akerebiata-Ilorin and Ado-Ekiti clay samples were suitable and effective to produce safe water. The information on the most suitable filter in this study can be used to produce effective filter with large sizes for individual or group use.

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