1. Contaminant Filtration Using Ceramic and Clay filters: Comparing the Flow Rate of Water
Through Clay Filters With E-Coli Removal
Jake Madelone1, Kyle Monahan1, Emily Gonthier2, Alexandra Rowe2
Mentor: Dr. Michelle Crimi1
Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY1, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York2
Introduction
Access to clean water has been a growing concern, both in the third world and
developed countries. Ingestion of water contaminated with bacteria have been
known to cause diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and even death. Effective
methods of filtering out these bacteria need to be developed while considering
available resources and costs to the people using them.
The focus of this research was to evaluate a method of filtering E. Coli, that
would be economically and environmentally feasible to people of a developing
nation. The filtering device is composed of a hard plastic tube shape canister
with a ceramic clay disc serving as the main tool of filtration.
Figure 1. General design of the ceramic water filter with a spigot for removal of
filtered water. Design used in experimentation based off figure.
The reactor used was approximately 24in in height, and held a small, circular,
clay disc which acted as the primary filtering mechanism.
Methods
Conclusions
Bacterial growth consisted of using an Agar Broth to make plates for growing
media. To make this media, Tryptic Soy Agar was combined with distilled water for
a 1 liter mixture, bringing it to 360ºC, and placing it in to an Autoclave for 15
minutes at 121ºC. After being placed in a cooling bath, it was sorted in to petri
dishes. The E. Coli was cultivated by taking 10mL of cooled agar solution and
placing it in to a test tube to be placed in to an incubator for storage. After
cultivation, 1000µL of the bacteria were pipetted into a vial and dilution of the
substance took place. Following this process, the diluted results were placed into
plates and back in to the incubator with colony forming units being counted the
following day.
Figure 2. Agar broth solution in test tube used to culture samples of E. Coli bacteria.
Testing the flow rate of the filters started with inspecting the glass tube signs of
contamination. The fired filters were placed in a Plexiglas holder, secured with
silicone. The glass tube was placed on top of the filter holder, secured with nuts.
Starting volumes were noted and the flow test would begin. Heads of 4.8in, 9.6in,
14.4in, or 19.2in were used and leaks were noted. Effluent water was collected
following the hour of filtration time and volumes were recorded.
• The water needs for humans on average range from 2.2L/day to 2.9 L/day
and ceramic water filters can be very effective in reducing bacteriological
infections, increasing water purity, and impacting overall health in a
community.
• The filtering capabilities of clay filters posses the capabilities to provide
adequate amounts of drinking water to individuals in the third world and the
developed world.
• Though much has been done through out this experiment, further research
needs to be done to filter out contaminants beyond the organic threshold,
such as inorganics like Arsenic.
To determine the accurate flow rate in which bacteria would be removed
through the filter, three main steps were incorporated in to experimentation:
Preparing the clay mixture with sifted sawdust; Culturing E. Coli for filtration
testing; And testing the flow rate of constructed filters.
The amount of clay used was measured out in a designated measuring cup
with deviations in volume measured in a data sheet. The sawdust sifting was
used to measure out the burn material that would be placed in the clay when it
was to be fired. The clay material and burn material were well mixed,
removing any clumps or air bubbles. The clay was placed on a mixing bored
and worked in to small inch square boxes. The boxes were placed in to a tray
and shaped in to circular discs using a mold. The filters were laid out on a
table and placed to dry for four days, prior to firing. Firing temperatures varied,
ranging from 180ºC to 1928ºC.
Figure 3b. Viral concentration vs. head shows a logarithmic trend, suggesting a break
through of raw viral media.
The three points plotted represent head sizes of 19.2 in, 14.4 in, and 4.8 in,
respectively. A logarithmic growth is shown with the largest head size having
6.8x104 CFU’s/100mL of water and the smallest head size was shown to have
2.8x104 CFU’s/100mL of water.
Results & Discussion
Figure 3a. Suggests a faulty plating method due to such a high variance in viral removal,
both within a disc at separate heads and between different dilutions at the same head.
Each point represents a sample taken at a different head size. An increase in head
size did not correspond with the CFU’s that were recorded. A head size of 19.2
inches recorded the highest number with 2.4x105 CFU’s/100mL of water and the
lowest at 14.4 inches with 6.0x104 CFU’s/100mL of water.
• A total of 41 experimental tests using different head sizes were conducted.
During the hour long filtration time, various leaks were noted to occur and were
repaired during the time.
• Only some of the broth used cultured E.Coli which suggests a faulty plating
method as shown in Figure 3a.
• There were various discs that resulted in too many colony forming units (CFU’s)
to count, further supporting incorrect plating methods.
• Discs with a head size of 19.2 inches recorded the highest number of
CFU’s/100mL of water.
y = 29940ln(x) - 18430
R² = 0.9886
0.00E+00
1.00E+04
2.00E+04
3.00E+04
4.00E+04
5.00E+04
6.00E+04
7.00E+04
8.00E+04
0 5 10 15 20 25
CFUper100mL
Head (in)
y = 8333.3x + 30000
R² = 0.4082
0.00E+00
5.00E+04
1.00E+05
1.50E+05
2.00E+05
2.50E+05
3.00E+05
0 5 10 15 20 25
CFUper100mL
Head (in)
References
1. Mahlangu, T., Mamba, B., & Momba, M. (2012). A comparative assessment of chemical contaminant removal by three household
water treatment filters. Water SA, 38(1), 40.
1. Nelson, T., Ingols, C., Christian-Murtie, J., & Myers, P. (2011). Susan Murcott and Pure Home Water: Building a Sustainable Mission-
Driven Enterprise in Northern Ghana. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 1, no-no.
2. Duorcastella, m., & Morrill, k. (2012). particle size distribution analysis for ceramic pot water filter production.Potters Without
Boarders, 1, 4.
Acknowledgements
• Dr. Michelle Crimi, Dr. Shane Rogers, and Dr. Alan Rossner, Clarkson
University
• CCERG Lab Group & Crimi Lab Group
• Engineers Without Boarders, Clarkson University