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ENHANCEMENT OF CERAMIC WATER FILTRATION USING RICE HUSK

Salina Bt Abu Mansor, Associate Professor Dr. Zawati Bt Harun
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM)

ABSTRACT According on the fact, rice husk is an agricultural product that can absorb heavy metal, reduce waste in industry, clean the water and contribute high potential in industry. In fact, rice husk is low cost absorbent and natural resources. Thus, the usage of natural resources can contribute to the worldwide sustainable development. In this research, ceramic water filter are developed with a combination of kaolin clay with rice husk and kaolin clay with zeolite. In this work, the composition an additive for ceramic water filter ratio are 10%, 20% and 30% of rice husk and 20% of zeolite. The fabrication of ceramic filter is conducted by using slip casting and dry pressing. The samples for both are dried at 60oC for 1 hour and followed by sintering at 1200 oC. Several tests to measure their characteristic succeeded via scanning electron microscope (SEM) at 500X and 1000X magnification, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), porosity and density test, and shrinkage test are carried out to acquire the data. According to result obtained, rice husk fired at 600 oC consist amorphous phase and produce the glassy phase which is can induce the pore to closed. Meanwhile, rice husk fired at 1200 oC consists crystalline phase and produce incompatibility structure. Unfired rice husk consist cellulose and lignin layer that contribute to the pore for water permeation path. The increased of porosity can lead to highest permeability value for example Sample 4 as 0.023 ml/min for dry pressing technique while slip casting was Sample 8 as 0.042 ml/min. Keywords: Rice Husk, Ceramic Water filter, Zeolite, wastewater, Scanning electron microscope(SEM), 1.0 INTRODUCTION Ceramic water filters has been widely used in various places in the world in order to obtain better taste and clean looking water. A ceramic water filter was designed to remove impurities from water by means of a fine physical barrier, a chemical process or a biological process [1]. Moreover, this feature particularly attractive as a point-of-use treatment technology that is affordable and sustainable [1]. It applies to the sustainability concepts will be used in industry. Natural fibres or organic sources are the most environmentally preferable to reduce agricultural waste. There is some agricultural waste had been used as materials in wastewater treatment process. Coconut shell carbon is used for adsorption of heavy metal-contaminated industrial wastewater. The uses of coconut shell and aquatic waste to produce activated carbon potentially leads to the production of a highly effective absorbent generated from less expensive raw materials that are from renewable resources [2]. Accordingly, one of the most possible waste materials in the world as reported in the literature is rice husk, due to its high availability [3]. Besides that, rice husk has a granular structure as well as insoluble in water, chemical stability and high mechanical strength. The most significant characteristics of rice husk are regarding to its local availability has high silica content beside its lower cost [4]. There is no need to regenerate rice husk due to its low production costs. Rice husk is also tough and woody in nature, as well as poses abrasive inherent resistance behaviour[5]. In this work, rice husk and

zeolite are used as an additive material for ceramic water filter due to its characteristics. Furthermore, the ceramic water is produced by using slip casting and dry pressing method although there are various methods such as plastic forming, tape pressing and gel casting.

1.1 Objectives of Study This study carried out to reach these objectives: i) To produce a ceramic water filter with the incorporation of rice husk and zeolite. ii) To determine the right composition of rice husk used in ceramic water filter. iii) To measure the characteristic of ceramic water filter embedded with rice husk / zeolite. 1.2 Scope of the Study The focus of this study is based on these factors: i) Fabrications of ceramic water filter or membrane by using slip casting and dry pressing techniques. ii) The compositions of ceramic water filter are 20% of zeolite, 10%, 20% and 30% of unfired rice husk for slip casting while the dry pressing technique are 10% and 30% of fire rice husk at 600C and 1200C. iii) The characteristic of the ceramic water filter are measured with SEM, XRD, shrinkage test, porosity and density test. 2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW Based on the result of previous studies [1, 6], the ceramic water filters uses as a highly successful means of empowering households to manage their own safe water supply. Besides that, ceramic filters are effectively reducing the number of bacteria and viruses, making water safe for human consumption [6]. The previous author [1] reported that there are various types of ceramic water filter component such as candle filter, pot filter, and disk filter. Basically, ceramic water filters are described by the water passes through the mechanism via filter component to produce the treated water, usually the system consisting of an upper and lower storage vessel for holding water Ceramic materials are one of the important materials that will be used in water filter. Basically, ceramic materials can be classified to inorganic consists metallic and non-metallic elements. Generally, ceramic materials are rigid and brittle, exhibiting a stress-strain behavior best characterized as perfectly elastic [7]. The hardness and elastic modulus of many of the new ceramics are greater of those of metals. Stiffness and hardness of traditional ceramics are significantly less than for new ceramics. Mostly ceramic material such as clays consist oxides as alumina (Al2O3), silica (Si02), Zirconia (ZrO2), and barium titanate (BaTiO3) and non oxide group [8]. Basically, properties of ceramic product are strongly related to their chemical composition and their atomic and micro scale structure [7]. Additive is used to increase the porosity of the ceramic since it will be burned off during the firing, leaving behind pores or voids through water will travel. There are several types of addition such as wood dust, flour, talcum, and rice husk. In this work, the rice husk and zeolite will be used as additive because it has high potential. According to the previous author [9, 10] reported rice husk which is a low price agricultural product that can be used as absorbent to absorb water pollutants mainly heavy metals and textile dyes from wastewater. The previous author [11] reported an investigation using poly(vinyl chloride)- zeolite composites for methylene blue adsorption and found that the adsorption capacity of zeolite decreased when it was embedded in composites.

3.0 METHODOLOGY This chapter discusses the methods and procedures used in the research. The methodology is structured as a guideline from the early stage until completed. Basically, it begins with material selection and processing; followed by fabricate the ceramic water filter element into a mould by using slip casting and dry pressing technique, drying at 60C, firing in furnace and several testing. This ceramic water filter is fabricated from a mixture of kaolin and an additive. Kaolin clay and an additive will be added to the mixture by using ball mill, fabricate and then sintered in the furnace at temperature 1200C. In this work, rice husk and zeolite are used as an additive to increase the porosity of the ceramic and to absorb water pollutants mainly heavy metals and textile dyes from wastewater. Next, several test via; X-ray Diffraction (XRD), shrinkage, porosity and density, and microstructure test by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis was carried out to obtain the required data. 4.0 RESULT AND DISCUSSION This chapter are discusses characterization of ceramic water filter microstructure; phase analysis (XRD), microstructural analysis (SEM), porosity, density, and shrinkage in different temperature are presented. Two methods were used in this work such as slip casting and dry pressing with different compositions of rice husk and rice husk silica. Samples 1 till samples 5 were fabricated by using dry pressing method and samples 6 till samples 9 were fabricated by using slip casting. Sample 1 is 100% of kaolin, while sample 2 and sample 3 are mixed of kaolin and 30% and 10% of rice husk fired at 600 C. Furthermore, sample 4 and sample 5 mixed of kaolin with 30% and 10% of rice husk fired at 1200C. Next, sample 6 consist 10% of rice husk, sample 7 used 20% of rice husk, sample 8 contained 30% of rice husk and sample 9 consists 20% of zeolite The SEM micrograph (sample 1 till sample 5) presents the cross section microstructure for ceramic water filter using dry pressing technique and sintered at 1200C. Sample 1 was fabricated from 100% kaolin and showed clearly homogenous pores on microstructure. Overall, results for Sample 2, 3, 4 and 5 have a quite different microstructure compared to Sample 1 due to amorphous and crystalline phase which is consists of rice husk fired at 600 C and 1200C. The results show that Sample 2 has a glassy phase cross section compared Sample 3 less glassy phase cross section. This may

due to amorphous phase that exist in Sample 2 contains 30% of amorphous rice husk while sample 3 only consists 10% of amorphous rice husk. Meanwhile,
structures are shown by Sample 4 and Sample 5, which is contains 30% of crystalline rice husk and 10% of crystalline rice husk. Firing at temperature 1200 C the rice husk becomes a crystalline phase, and there is no formation of glassy phase. The microstructure of crystalline sample produces a very rough surface compared to amorphous sample. The cross section SEM micrograph for ceramic water filter fabricated by using the slip casting technique show there are many pores due to uncompact particles. Therefore, percentage of rice husk usage in ceramic water filter were influenced the pores in the structure. The unfired rice husk was used because it consists of cellulose and lignin layer that contribute to pore formation for water permeation of ceramic water filter. Different in Sample 9 utilizes 20% of zeolite as an additive and the SEM micrograph exhibit the structure is well-defined crystals with slightly different sizes and flake structure. Comparison between the slip casting and dry pressing, slips casting showed a rough porous surface than dry pressing surface. Overall compositions on porosity value show that Sample 1, Sample 4 and Sample 5 have higher porosity compared to Sample 2 and Sample 3. Analysis on Sample 2 and Sample 3 show that the value of porosity obviously reduced. This may due to the amorphous phase that originated from rice husk burned at 600C that not only can cause glassy phase but also reduction of pore as the pore is covered by the glassy phase. In fact,

glassy phase also can induce pore closed. Instead of more rice husk burned used as additive, microstructure of ceramic water filter is glassy phase and pore was decreased. For slip casting technique the highest porosity was Sample 8. It may be due to uncompact particles in slip casting caused the percentage of porosity value is higher compared to dry pressing. Highest compositions of unfired rice husk used in sample, the porosity also increased. However, as expected the pattern of density measurement will followed the porosity trends. So in both technique dry pressing and slip casting show that the value of density quite similar trends in density values. As percentage of unfired rice husk increased it consists of highly cellulose structure, so the pores also increased as expected unless for zeolite sample. Basically, zeolite did not have a cellulose structure it make a Sample 9 as the highest density value. The same phenomenon is shown by water absorption mechanisms that strongly depend on porosity distribution. However, due to the addition of hydrophilic properties of rice husk the results shown were slightly different where the water absorption of sample with rice husk for both techniques with fired and unfired rice husk shows good results in water absorption. Therefore, the rate of water absorption is higher in slip casting compared to dry pressing. The pores on the surface affect the rate of water absorption. The percentages of shrinkage, for both types technique were measured by comparing the diameter before and after the drying process. This is due to the higher water content in the slurry type which is agreed with Kingery et al [12] who mentions that shrinkage mechanism is always affected by the water content level [13]. Overall, a comparison the range of slip casting and dry pressing shrinkage is between 8%-12% and dry pressing is 4%-10% except for Sample 2 that consist of highest amorphous rice husk. The highest shrinkage in dry pressing technique was Sample 2 due to glassy amorphous exist in higher concentration that lead to sintering at lower temperatures. Therefore at higher sintering temperature they might be shamed and this contributes to big shrinkage as all particles tend to melt. X-ray diffraction analysis was carried out to determine the purity of the kaolin clay, rice husk, rice husk burned at 600C, rice husk burned at 1200C and zeolite. The results of the XRD patterns are shown in the Figures below. Based on the results displayed in the graph above, it is proved that these powders are the pure powders of ceramic which are kaolinite (Al2Si2O5(OH)4), and Quartz (SiO2). In the XRD analyses patterns, it is found that rice husk burned at 1200C is crystalline, while rice husk burned at 600C and pure rice husk is amorphous.The additions of fire rice husk silica in the amorphous phase create a resist for water permeation. Based on the result below glassy phase cover the pore and caused the pore to close. In fact, rice husk silica also creates incompatibility structure that creates a permeation path. 5.0 CONCLUSION In this study, ceramic water filter by using rice husk as additive were successfully prepared using dry pressing technique and slip casting technique. Containing additive 10% 20% and 30% rice husk and 20% zeolite for slip casting meanwhile dry pressing technique containing 10% and 30% of rice husk silica. The additive of rice husk silica in ceramic water filter was affecting their characteristics. Figure 5 shows the glassy phase occur when increment of percentage rice husk. Furthermore, by increasing the percentage of rice husk silica will increase the porosity of the ceramic water filter it proven in Figure 7 and Figure 8. As a conclusion, we can say that the range between 10%-30% of rice husk gives the optimum composition based on the result density, shrinkage, SEM and porosity. Moreover, the dry pressing technique is better than slip casting technique according to data acquired.

6.0 REFERENCE 1. Dies.R.W. Development o f a ceramic water filter for Nepal. University of British Columbia, Canada. Masters Thesis. 2001. 2. O.S. Amuda, A.A. Giwaa, I.A. Bellob. Removal of heavy metal from industrial wastewater using modified activated coconutshellcarbon. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 2007. 36 (2): 174181. 3. Chuah, T. G., Jumasiah, A., Azni, I., Katayon, S., and Choong, S. Y. T. Rice husk as a potentially low cost biosorbent for heavy metal and dye removal: an overview, Desalination, October 2005. 175: 305 316. 4. El Azab, A. M. M. PhD thesis, Cairo University.1992 5. Sadon, F. N., Ahmmed Saadi Ibrahem*, Kamariah Nor Ismail. Journal of Purity , Utility Reaction and Environment, 2012. 1 (6): 308-334. 6. Lantagne, D. Investigation of the potter for peace Colloidal Silver Impregnated Ceramic Filter. report 1: Intrinsic Effectiveness. Allston, MA: Alethia Enviromental. 2001 7. Reed, J.S. Principles of Ceramics Processing. 2 nd Ed: New York State College: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.1995 8. Rahaman, M.N.Ceramic Processing and Sintering. 2nd edition Ed: United State of America: Marcel Dekker Inc. 2007 9. Chuah, T. G., Jumasiah, A., Azni, I., Katayon, S., and Choong, S. Y. T. Rice husk as a potentially low cost biosorbent for heavy metal and dye removal: an overview, Desalination, October 2005. 175: 305 316 10. Mahvi, A. H., Maleki, A., and Eslami, A. Potential of rice husk and rice husk ash for phenol removal in aqueous systems, American Journal of Applied Sciences. 2004 11. D. Balkose, S. Ulutan, F. Ozkan, S. Ulku, U. Kokturk, Sep. Sci. Technol. 31 (1996) 12791289. 12. Kingery, W. D., Bowen, H. K., and Uhlman, D. R. Introductions of Ceramic. Riedel, R., and Chen, I. W. Ceramics Science and Technology. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 2008 13. Kingery, W. D., and Francl, J. Fundamental Study of Clay :XIII, Drying Behavior and Plastic Properties. Weiner, S. Microarchaeology: Beyond The Visible Archaeological Record. New York: Cambridge. 2010

Figure 5: SEM micrograph (1000x magnification) for Sample 2 shows a glassy phase.

Figure 6: SEM micrograph (1000x magnification) for Sample 8 consists rough surface.

Graph of Porosity and Water Absorption

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Porosity %

Sample 1= (100% Kaolin) Sample 2= (70% Kaolin + 30% rice husk burned at 600C) Sample 3= 90% Kaolin + 10% rice husk burned at 600C) Sample 4= (70% Kaolin + 30% rice husk burned at 1200C) Sample 5= (90% Kaolin + 10% rice husk burned at 1200C)

Types Of Sample Figure 7: Graph of porosity and water absorption for dry pressing technique.

e a w / % y t i s r o p

n i t p r o s b a

Sample 6= (90% 10% rice husk) Sample 7= (80% 20% rice husk) Sample 8= (70% 30% rice husk) Sample 9= (80% 20% zeolite)

Kaolin + Kaolin + Kaolin + Kaolin +

Figure 8: Graph of porosity and water absorption for slip casting technique.

Graph of Density
Density (g/cm3)

3 9 0 . 2

8 3 0 . 2

2.5 2

Figure 9: Graph of density for both techniques.

1.5 1 0.5 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Types of sample

Sample 1= (100% Kaolin) Sample 2= (70% Kaolin + 30% rice husk burned at 600C) Sample 3= 90% Kaolin + 10% rice husk burned at 600C) Sample 4= (70% Kaolin + 30% rice husk burned at 1200C) Sample 5= (90% Kaolin + 10% rice husk burned at 1200C) Sample 6 = (90% Kaolin + 10% rice husk) Sample 7 = (80% Kaolin + 20% rice husk) Sample 8 = (70% Kaolin + 30% rice husk) Sample 9 = (80% Kaolin + 20% zeolite)

9 5 0 4 . 2

4 6 5 3 . 2

3 . 2

4 6 . 2

7 8 6 . 2

m c / g

8 4 9 7 . 1

5 1 . 2