ABSTRACT

The study aimed to optimize the production process of Ceramic candle filter by developing and modeling the ceramic filter using Response Surface Methdology (RSM). The development of model composing Ohiya Clay-Sawdust-Kaolin mix into varying qualities of ceramic candle filter products in accordance with end-user desires in other to attract investors in Abia State for economic growth in Nigeria. The effect of the input parameter such as; firing temperature, clay and sawdust ratio were studied. The result generally showed that the clay and sawdust has the greatest effect on the apparent porosity response. The result also revealed that 40:50:10 are the optimal mix of clay, sawdust and kaolin while the optimal firing temperature of ceramic candle is 900oc. While the performance test of the ceramic candle filter indicated a filtration efficiency of 78% and 79% for the total dissolved soTABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page                                                                                                    i

Declaration                                                                                                 ii

Dedication                                                                                                  iii

Certification                                                                                                         iv

Acknowledgements                                                                                     v

Table of Contents                                                                                       vi

List of Tables                                                                                              ix

List of Figures                                                                                            x

List of Symbols and Abbreviation                                                              xii

Abstract                                                                                                      xiv

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of Study                                                                        1

1.2     Statement of Problem                                                                       2

1.3     Aim and Objectives of Study                                                            3

1.4     Scope of Study                                                                                 4

1.5     Justification for the Study                                                                 5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE RIVEW

2.1     Overview of Ceramic water filter                                                      5

2.1.1 Types of Ceramic water filter                                                           7

2.2     Properties of Ceramic candle water filter                                          8

2.3     Review of ceramic candle water filter                                                         11

CHAPTER 3: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1     Materials                                                                                           13

3.2     Methods                                                                                            13

3.2.1  Body Preparation                                                                             15

3.2.2  Mixing                                                                                              15

3.2.3  Slip Casting                                                                                                15

3.2.3  Drying and Firing                                                                             16

3.3     Physical Analysis and Experimentation                                           17

3.3.1  Experimental Procedures                                                                            17

3.3.2  Making moisture Determination                                                       17

3.3.3  Determination of Relative Plasticity                                                 18

3.3.4  Determination of Modulus of Rapture                                                       18

3.3.5  Shrinkage Determination                                                                            19

3.3.6  Determination of Water Absorption                                                 19

3.3.7  Porosity and Density Determination                                                 20

3.4     Response Surface Methodolgy                                                                   20

3.4.1  Application of RSM based Desirability Function Analysis              20

 

CHAPTER 4: RESULT AND DISCUSSION

4.1     Physical Analysis                                                                              22

4.1.1  Modulus of Rapture                                                                          25

4.2     Response Surface Modeling                                                              27

4.2.1  Statistical Result                                                                               30

4.2.2  Residual Plots                                                                                   32

4.2.3  Response Optimization                                                                     33

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION              

5.1     Conclusion                                                                                        36

5.2     Recommendation                                                                              36

REFERENCE

APPENDICE

         

 

 

 

Top of Form

 

 

 

LIST OF TABLLES

2.1     General strength and weakness of Ceramic water Candle filters                6

3.1     Formation of Candle filter bodies                                                     17

4.1     Results for water Absorption, Apparent porosity, Apparent Density      22

4.2     Total Linear Shrinkage                                                                     24

4.3     Modulus of Rapture                                                                          25

4.4     Experiment Design Table                                                                           27

4.5     Coded Coefficients                                                                            30

4.6     Model Summary                                                                               30

4.7     Analysis Summary                                                                                     30

4.8     Response Optimization                                                                     30

4.9     Candle filter Performance Test                                                                   35

          

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIST OF FIGURES

3.1     Sample of Unprocessed Clay

3.1     Hardwood Sawdust

3.3     Water filtration setup    using produce ceramic candle filter

4.1     Total and Linear Shrinkage Graph

4.3     Bar Chart for Modulus of Rapture

4.4     Parity plot of Predicted value versus actual (observed) value of Apparent porosity

4.5     Response Surface plot of Apparent porosity versus Sawdust and Clay

4.6     Pareto Chart of Standardized Effects

4.7     Residual Plotlid and total suspended solid respectively. The developed model can be used to predict apparent porosity for different firing temperatures and improve the efficiency of ceramic candle filters in water filtration. The study suggests that this method of production is cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable for water filtration.