Production of Water Filters: Using Infensi Clayas the Base Material

Various media have been used in the production of water filters. This project is a ceramic filter made from Nfensi clay (as the base material) and sawdust to create a porous body to filter water. The study aim at developing water fillter that is effective for its purpose and can easily be accessed by the indigenous rural dwellers in Ghana who due to economic reasons cannot get access to quality conventional water filters. In Ghana, there are two major companies that produce water filters using various media. TCC uses kaolin with Nfensi clay as a binder whiles Ceramic Tamakloe, uses Nfensi clay, sawdust and colloidal silver, but this project adapts Nfensi clay as the base material. For the production of the filter candle, sketches were first made, and then developed using computer design software called Rhinoceros. Various test samples of clay bodies were composed and taken through series of forming techniques such as, jolleying, throwing, pinching, slip and press casting to obtain a suitable one for the final product. Several percentages of clay, sawdust and grog were also mixed as specimens to enable the researchers to choose the most suitable composition for the project. Selected fired compositions were tested through various stages of porosity, flow rate and microbial tests and the most suitable was chosen. The research has resulted in the in the production of water filters for healthy living at minimum cost. It has revealed the paramountcy of sterilization and hygienic handling of the filter candle and the need for it to be taken into consideration whenever water is being filtered for human consumption.