​Ayat Bozeya

Abstract:

Ensuring access to clean and safe water is a critical component of global water sustainability. One of the major threats to water quality is the presence of heavy metal contaminants, particularly lead ions, which pose significant risks to human health and the environment. In this context, ceramic membranes have emerged as promising materials for sustainable water treatment due to their robustness and long-term durability under harsh operating conditions. This study presents the development of a ceramic nanocomposite membrane composed of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) and manganese oxide nanoparticles (Mn₃O₄), synthesized via the co-precipitation method. The Mn₃O₄ nanoparticles were characterized in terms of morphology, size distribution, and elemental composition. A series of six membrane variants were fabricated by altering the HNT content and sintering temperature to optimize performance. Filtration efficiency was evaluated using a dead-end filtration unit, focusing on the removal of lead ions from aqueous solutions under 5-bar pressure. The results revealed exceptional water permeability, with a peak flow rate of 390 L/m²·h at 75% HNTs and 900 °C, and a maximum lead removal efficiency of 99.84% at 80% HNTs and 1000 °C. These findings demonstrate the membrane's strong potential for sustainable water purification, offering an efficient and scalable solution for heavy metal remediation. The proposed ceramic membrane supports long-term water sustainability by contributing to safer water reuse practices, reducing environmental contamination, and promoting resilient water management strategies.

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