Masters Theses

Keywords and Phrases

Ceramic pot filters

Abstract

"Drinking water contamination is a major cause of disease in developing countries. Point of Use (POU) water treatment technologies generally have low initial cost and allow rapid availability of improved water. Ceramic pot filters (CPFs) are a POU water source treatment technology which filter water by gravity through a porous ceramic media. Some filters in use contain carbon remnants left from the fugitive pore former as a dark carbon core. Using disk-shaped experimental ceramic filters produced in the lab to have varying levels of carbon, the percent carbon present was measured and a visual analysis method was developed to determine a representative carbon content statistic for the filters. A semi-logarithmic relationship was found between the physical carbon analysis method and the visual carbon analysis method. This visual analysis methodology could be used by CPF production centers to quickly evaluate the carbon content in production CPFs. Sawdust used as a pore former has been noted as a potential source of flowrate variability. The sawdust used in this study was analyzed from digital imagery for shape and size variation and was found to have a high degree of variability. The experimental filters were installed in reactors and contaminated water was run through them over the course of four weeks. Flowrate and logarithmic reduction values (LRV) were determined for each filter at the end of the four weeks. No direct benefit was identified for the presence or the absence of carbon, however, a marginal benefit of complete burnout of carbon is a more focused grouping of flowrate and LRV. Since flowrate is a common quality control test, the smaller variability in flowrate and LRV could contribute to a more efficient manufacturing process with fewer rejected filters and a more consistent final product."--Abstract, page iv.

Advisor(s)

Elmore, A. Curt

Committee Member(s)

Maerz, Norbert H.
Reidmeyer, Mary R.

Department(s)

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering

Degree Name

M.S. in Geological Engineering

Publisher

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Publication Date

Spring 2015

Journal article titles appearing in thesis/dissertation

  • Influence of carbon content on household ceramic water filter flowrate and disinfection efficacy

Pagination

xi, 61 pages

Note about bibliography

Includes bibliographical references.

Rights

© 2015 Jessie Yvonne Hahn, All rights reserved.

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

File Type

text

Language

English

Subject Headings

Drinking Water -- Purification
Ceramic materials -- Carbon content
Filters and filtration.

Thesis Number

T 10677

Electronic OCLC #

913485890

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