Characterization of the Acid-Base Character of Burned Clay Ceramics Used for Water Decontamination

• Published in: Materials Vol. 12; no. 23; p. 3836
• Main Authors: Sandu, Andrei Victor, Vasilache, Viorica, Sandu, Ioan Gabriel, Sieliechi, Joseph M, Kouame, Innocent Kouassi, Matasaru, Petre Daniel, Sandu, Ion
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 21.11.2019; MDPI
• Subjects: acid-base character; Acids; Aluminum; Anniversaries; Aqueous solutions; caustic module; Ceramics; Ceramics industry; Charcoal; Clay; Decontamination; Drinking water; Energy dispersive X ray analysis; Hydronium ions; Magnesium; Mineralogy; Modules; Retention; Scanning electron microscopy; sem-edx; Silicon; Water purification; water treatment; X ray analysis; SEM-EDX; ceramics; acid-base character; water treatment; caustic module
• ISSN: 1996-1944; 1996-1944
• DOI: 10.3390/ma12233836

The paper presents the results of ample investigations performed on industrial and traditional ceramics of fired clay used in processes of water potabilization in the last stage of filtration, after that of active charcoal. Using the data obtained through the scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX) and pH analyses, on the basis of the atomic composition and free concentration of hydronium ions, the normal caustic (Si/Al) and summative [(Si+Ti+FeIII+Cl)/(Al+Ca+Mg+Na+K)] modules were assessed, which were correlated with the free acidity and, respectively, the capacity of absorption and ionic exchange of the Fe and Al ions. The study allowed the selection, on the basis of the caustic module, of the ceramics with high capacity for ionic exchange.