Characterization and performance of rice husk as additive in green ceramic water filter fabricated by slip-casting

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the using of rice husk (RH) which is a green material derived from agricultural waste with the ability to absorb heavy metal. It has been used in wastewater treatment. In this research, a kaolin-based green ceramic water filter (CWF) incorporated with two different additives (RH and zeolite-based RH ash [RHA]) was successfully fabricated.

Design/methodology/approach

The weight ratio of kaolin:additive was varied (90:10, 80:20 and 70:30) and fabricated via the slip-casting technique. The green CWFs were dried (60°C for 1 h), followed by sintering (1,200°C).

Findings

The green CWF of kaolin:RH with a weight ratio of 70:30 showed the best properties and satisfactory performance with a porous cross-section microstructure, highest porous area (4.58 µm²), good structure, lowest shrinkage (8.00%), highest porosity (45.10%), lowest density (1.79 g cm⁻³), highest water absorption (55.50%) and hardness (241.40 Hv). This green CWF has also achieved good permeability (42.00 L m⁻²h⁻¹) and removal of the textile dye (27.88%). The satisfactory characterization and good textile dye removal performance (75.47%) were also achieved from green CWF with kaolin:zeolite at a weight ratio of 80:20.

Research limitations/implications

This research is focused on green CWF and zeolite at a certain amount with the specific characterization analysis methods.

Practical implications

The use of low-cost waste materials to treat dye wastewater from agricultural by-products/wastes sources in treating the dye will enhance the using of green material.

Social implications

Avoiding the waste sludge that can pollute the environment can create a health issue. The use of low-cost waste materials to treat dye wastewater from agricultural by-products/wastes sources in treating the dye can avoid the waste sludge that can pollute the environment and create serious health issue.

Originality/value

All the kaolin-based green CWFs incorporated with two different additives (RH and zeolite-based RHA) fabricated using a simple slip-casting technique have shown the potential to be used as a filter in wastewater treatment applications.

Citation

Alias, S.S., Harun, Z. and Abu Mansor, S. (2020), "Characterization and performance of rice husk as additive in green ceramic water filter fabricated by slip-casting", World Journal of Engineering, Vol. 17 No. 4, pp. 553-562. https://doi.org/10.1108/WJE-09-2019-0274