REMOVAL OF E.COLI FROM DRINKING WATER USING HYDROXYAPATITE MODIFIED CLAY FILTER

Consumption of contaminated water may result in several water-borne diseases. In recent times the use of household water treatment and safe storage is being used to avert this problem. In this study he ceramic water filter, which is one of the effective water treatment techniques, was studied and evaluated to provide information that will help improve their performance and promote their use. Two kinds of ceramic filters were fabricated, one without hydroxylapatite and the other with hydroxylapatite. Their flow rates were determined and their ability to remove E.coli was also tested. The results indicated that the two kinds of filters fabricated did not show any significant difference in their flow rates. Their flow rates were between 1-2 liters per hour (L/h), which is the acceptable flow rate for all ceramic filters. The SEM scan of the finished filters indicated that the pores present in the filters are more of interconnected pores. Results from the E.coli test also showed that E.coli removal was successful since there was no colony formation in the water filtered with the ceramic filters. EDS and X-ray analysis of the clay used for the fabrication revealed a compound known as Albite and other elements like K, C, F, Cd, Fe, Ti and Mg.