Characterization of ceramic membrane support based on Ukrainian kaolin
Alla Serhiienko, Tetiana Dontsova, Olena Yanushevska, Victoria Vorobyova, Georgii Vasyliev
Abstract
The production of low-cost ceramic membranes from natural materials has attracted more and more attention in recent years, as it allows them to reduce their cost while maintaining their advantages. The aim of this study was the synthesis of ceramic membrane supports from kaolin of Ukrainian origin and their characterization. The choice of such a raw material as kaolin was dictated by its characteristics, which were investigated by X-ray and chemical analysis, the nitrogen adsorption/desorption method and thermogravimetric analysis. Ceramic membrane supports were prepared by dry pressing method followed by sintering at 950 °C. The phase composition, morphological structure and structural-adsorption characteristics of the synthesized supports has been established. The effect of the content of boric acid on the electrical resistance of the membrane support has been studied. The ceramic supports after modification of silver demonstrated bactericidal and antifungal effects on Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Candida albicans wound pathogens.