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Application of molasses in improving water purification efficiency of diatomaceous earth waste ceramic membranes

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Abstract

The World Health Organization predicts that 90.0% of the 2.3 million people who die annually due to water-borne diseases come from developing countries. At the same time fluorosis occurrence in the world’s geological fluoride belts has left many people maimed due to drinking highly fluoridated water. This work reports on the use of molasses in making carbon-activated diatomaceous earth waste (DE-waste) ceramic membranes with improved mechanical strength and water purification efficiency. The fabricated diatomaceous membranes were soaked in molasses for 24.0 h and fired at 600.0 for 3.0 h. The carbon-activated membranes were used to filter water contaminated with Escherichia coli, Rotavirus, and sodium fluoride. The activated carbon obtained in this work had a bulk density of 450.0 kg/m3 and it reduced the porosity of the DE-waste membranes by 18.0%. The activated carbon improved the modulus of rupture (MOR) of the DE-waste membrane by 47.8% and the average pore size of the active DE-waste membrane was 50.0 nm. The filtration process was found to be dependent on the contaminant’s size, concentration, and the external pressure applied to the water during the filtration process. The filtration efficiency of > 99.9 in E. coli was dependent on concentration and pressure. Membranes reported efficiency of 97.1% and 98.9% in deflouridation and Rotavirus filtration. Thus, molasses is potential material in fabrication of water membranes.

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Funding

We wish to thank the International Science Program (ISP), the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi Foundation, and Kenya National Research Fund for their financial support. We further thank the African School Physics for mentorship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Nairobi, P.O Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    Mary T. Simiyu, Francis W. Nyongesa, Bernard O. Aduda & Zephania Birech

  2. College of Engineering Design Art and Technology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

    Godwin A. Mwebaze

  3. Department of Chemistry, University of Nairobi, P.O Box 30197-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

    Lydia Njenga

  4. Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Nikolina Ilin

  5. Department of Physics, University of York, Heslington, YO10 5DD, York, UK

    Thomas F. Krauss & Giampaolo Pitruzzello

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  1. Mary T. Simiyu
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Correspondence to Mary T. Simiyu.

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Simiyu, M.T., Nyongesa, F.W., Aduda, B.O. et al. Application of molasses in improving water purification efficiency of diatomaceous earth waste ceramic membranes. MRS Advances 8, 538–544 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1557/s43580-023-00537-x

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