Performance assessment of a phengite clay-based flat membrane for microfiltration of real-wastewater from clothes washing: Characterization, cost estimation, and regeneration

The challenge of the scientific community is to synthesize innovative, low-cost, and environmentally friendly membrane materials for the treatment of industrial wastewater. The objective of this work is the elaboration and characterization of a new flat ceramic membrane based on a natural Moroccan phengite clay by the paste casting method for microfiltration applications. The ceramic membrane was sintered from 850 °C to 1150 °C for 2 hours. The optimal membrane sintered at 1050 °C has a porosity of 34.5%, an average pore diameter of 3.9 μm, water permeability of 43.50 L/h m2 bar, mechanical strength of 26.7 MPa, and excellent chemical corrosion resistance in acidic and basic media. The performance of the optimal membrane was evaluated by frontal microfiltration of the pre-treated real wastewater (RWW3) from a local clothes washing. The obtained results show that the removal percentage of electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and suspended matter is 66.2%, 71.8%, and 100% respectively. The cost of preparing the ceramic membrane was estimated at 3.5 $/m2, which is cheaper compared to those commercially available. The high regeneration efficiency showed that demineralized water was able to adequately clean the fouled microfiltration membrane by 82%. The obtained filtration results are very promising and could allow the use of the membrane prepared from a locally available material as an alternative process in the treatment of various sources of industrial wastewater.