New ceramic microfiltration membranes from Tunisian natural materials: Application for the cuttlefish effluents treatment

• Published in: Ceramics international Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 55 - 61
• Main Authors: Khemakhem, S., Larbot, A., Ben Amar, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Ceramic; Chemical Sciences; Cuttlefish effluent; D. Clay; E. Membrane; Material chemistry; Microfiltration; Silty marls; Microfiltration; Ceramic; Cuttlefish effluent; E. Membrane; D. Clay; Silty marls; Clay; Membrane
• ISSN: 0272-8842; 1873-3956
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ceramint.2007.09.117

New microfiltration membranes from Tunisian natural materials are obtained using ceramic method. Paste from Tunisian silty marls refereed (M 11) is extruded to elaborate a porous tubular configuration used as supports. The support heated at 1190 °C, shows an average pore diameters and porosity of about 9.2 μm and 49%, respectively. The properties in term of mechanical and corrosion resistances are very interesting. The elaboration of the layer based on Tunisian clay refereed (JM 18) is performed by slip-casting method. The heating treatment at 900 °C leads to an average pore size of 0.18 μm. The water permeability determined of this membrane is 867 l h −1 m −2 bar −1. This membrane can be used for crossflow microfiltration. The application to the cuttlefish effluent clarification shows an important decrease of turbidity (inferior to 1 NTU) and chemical organic demand (COD) values (retention rate of about 65%). So, it seems that the prepared membrane is suitable for such wastewater treatment.