Seyed Abdollatif Hashemifard

In this study, the water from Tangarm Dam in Bushehr Province was treated using a ceramic membrane and microfiltration method to reduce turbidity. The ceramic membranes, made from bauxite and silicon carbide based on kaolin, were prepared with different percentage compositions. Since Tangarm Dam water is used as drinking water for the village, reducing water turbidity is of significant importance. Five types of ceramic microfilter membranes with various bauxite and silicon carbide compositions were investigated and tested for water purification from the dam. The slurry for each membrane was extruded to an inner diameter of 9 mm, an outer diameter of 13 mm, and a length of 14.5 cm, and then fired in an electric furnace. Controlled heating resulted in phase changes and ultimately achieved the desired physical resistance. Necessary performance tests for the membranes, including average pore size, porosity, membrane volume reduction, SEM, TGA, XRD, and physical strength, were conducted. The permeability flux and turbidity removal efficiency of the fabricated membranes were then evaluated. The final results confirmed that using bauxite as a cheaper alternative to silicon carbide was effective, with the membranes demonstrating a 99.6% turbidity removal rate. Additionally, the optimal membrane was selected based on permeability flux, mechanical strength, and economic considerations.