Preparation and properties of tubular macroporous ceramic membrane supports based on natural quartz sand and dolomite

• Published in: Journal of the Australian Ceramic Society 2020-06, Vol.56 (2), p.379-387
• Main Authors: Kadiri, Cheikh, Harabi, Abdelhamid, Bouzerara, Ferhat, Foughali, Lazhar, Brihi, Noureddine, Hallour, Sarah, Guechi, Abdelkrim, Boudaira, Boukhemis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ceramics; Chemistry and Materials Science; Composites; Glass; Inorganic Chemistry; Materials Engineering; Materials Science; Natural Materials
• ISSN: 2510-1560; 2510-1579
• DOI: 10.1007/s41779-019-00338-2

This study describes the fabrication of macroporous ceramic supports for membranes prepared from quartz sand and dolomite mixtures, which are abundant local raw materials; tubular supports are made using the extrusion technique. The structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and mercury porosimetry techniques; the presence of possible defects in the prepared porous ceramic materials was investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Possible phase formation and structural evolutions were evaluated by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The influence of dolomite addition and sintering temperature on phase composition, microstructure, porosity, pore size distribution, and chemical and mechanical properties is investigated. Supports properties such as permeability and three-point flexural strength were also measured and found to be related to both processing and microstructure parameters. The obtained supports show an optimum open porosity within a range of 40–45%, good permeability, and good resistance to corrosion. Such materials could be of great interest in the supports fabrication for membrane applications like water filtration.