Have you produced an actual treatment unit using the medium you describe? If so, what is its orientation (cylinder? disk? pot? something else?), and can you share results of any performance testing you've done? The specific parameters in which we would be most interested initially are:
- log removal of E. coli and/or a specific microbial pathogen in the bacterial, parasitic, or viral categories
- flow rates under different levels of hydraulic head and with source waters of different turbidities (and with respect to different particles sizes)
Optimally, it would be useful to look at some third-party performance testing. Do you have such data, or have any plans to arrange for it?
The treatment unit basically comprises two cylindrical aluminium cans. The dimensions are; diameter =30cm, height= 30cm for both. One is put on top of the other. The top can has a 10mm thick, 200mm diameter ceramic disk fixed at the base which is perforated.
I normally fill the top container with 20 liters of turbid water. It takes 10 hours to filtrate to the bottom container by gravity.
Bacteriological tests carried on filtrate indicated absence of E. coli. This was done by a government chemist.
Other tests are ongoing courtesy of wellwishers and will post the detailed results as I receive them.
Let me indicate here that am not limited to only one type of design. Moreover, it is possible to make candles of any size for household use, ceramic containers (cylindical or rectangular) to hold upto 100,000 litres for large water supplies.
I call it green ceramic technology that requires no firing. Nano-scale binding technology assists to knit the zeolite particles into a 3 dimensional array mesh with millions of micropores and nanopores, allowing water but not pathogens.
Many thanks for your detailed reply, and congratulations for your early progress.
Some further questions:
1. As you know, if the device is filled only once, flow rate through the disk declines over time (as the elevation head of the water in the upper chamber drops). Have you measured flowrate as a function of head (or, more easily, volume in the upper chamber)? Also, did you measure the turbidity of your test water? I'd be curious to know both the turbidity and the particle size distribution, since more clay-rich waters will provide much more of a challenge
2. in your tests, did you measure pre-filtration E coli concentrations? It is encouraging to know that you had no detectable E. coli in the filtrate, but it would be useful to estimate a log reduction value.
And now, an observation: the fact that your innovation requires no firing is interesting indeed, but getting a much clearer comparison with conventional silver-coated porous ceramic technology will be essential to your success. I am referring not only to performance but also to the existing production and supply chain. Keep in mind that Brazilian manufactured Sterilaqua candles (produced by Ceramica Stefani for both domestic use in Brazil and export) achieve higher flowrates than you've thus far demonstrated, achieve >3 log E. coli reduction, and are sold at a very low price due to production economies of scale. You would have much to learn from their experience.
Another development to explore further is the new siphon filter design which enables much higher flowrates (through increases in elevation head) as well as backwashing capabilities. See one Ron Rivera's entries in this competition...
Dear Mr. Mwangi,
It is interesting to hear about your innovation, and particularly exciting to see the comments and interest here of three real innovators in the water sector from around the world (Ron Rivera, Klaas van der Ven and Reid Harvey). I hope you truly take their encouragement and offers of support to heart.
Since at Acumen Fund we are really interested in how innovations like this can be marketed and distributed so that they reach the maximum number of people who need them, I would encourage you to identify partners that can be of assistance in lab- and field-testing the filter, as well as partners who could play a role in manufacturing and distribution. Though this is not necessarily your core expertise, you are the person in the best position to explain the potential value of this filter to potential partners.
Clearly, the fact that you are participating in this competition shows that you are ready to share what you have done and what you have learned. The next steps is find others who compliment your skills and resources who can help you take the next steps. Hopefully this community can be a part of that. Best wishes!
Yasmina
Thank you for the compliments. I like this forum because of the inputs by different experts from different fields and hope to form workable partnership that will help disseminate various technologies to achieve our GOAL.
I will continue to highlight more on my technology as per request by experts in this field.
Year ago I was doing research for a ceramic filter using pebbles, cement and rice husk ash. A formula for making ceramic filters developed by Tata India.
I found out that the pH of the water after the filter was extremely high (not acceptable for consumers) during many liters of water that had been filtered.
Wondering what is happening regarding pH with the new zeolite based filter?
We can arrange some bacterial tests in India at no costs if you send us some samples.
regards
Klaas van der Ven
Basic Water Needs India
bwnindia@gmail.com
You guys seem to be on the right track, and it's great that technologies like yours and ours could grow into Africa, and other locations. I don't want to talk about pros and cons, since that may be irrelevant for now, but there do need to be more of the ceramic technologies.
Ceramic filters for household water treatment could get to be many and varied in design, in the same way that stoves, for indoor air quality, have been appropriate in ceramics. I believe you're technology is innovative, and that like ceramics in general, it needs to be an option. There may still be the perception that ceramic filters are bulky and expensive, but that viewpoint needs to be changed.
Many thanks,
Reid
Reid Harvey
SilverCeramicSystems.com
Alfred, NY USA
+508 246-1185
The number of comments here is inflated, mostly by me. Only three entries are from others, but I feel the need to say more.
Pottery, as a low technology in general, should lend itself to health interventions relating to both household water treatment and indoor air quality. In large part the application is in rural locations, in Africa, South Asia and elsewhere, where there is a tradition of village pottery.
Village potteries may not reach the ~1,000 degrees C of earthenware (aka terra cotta and pottery), where pottery water storage containers tend to be fired at around 500 to 600C. Common in the so-called third world are traditions of pottery, firing at the lower, earthenware temperatures. An additional, 'insight,' should be the synergy between the technologies of HWT and IAQ.
There is a good connection with ceramic and pottery technology, for both HWT and IAQ, and there is an opportunity for sharing and synergy.
Reid
Reid Harvey
SilverCeramicSystems.com
Alfred, NY USA
+508 246-1185
I appreciate your comments that enlighten me more on ceramic designs.
Everyone of us has a role to play ,from all corners of the world, to ensure mankind enjoys using water without endangering health.
We can achieve more if we work together.
Any innovation that cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions should be encouraged.
Andrew... wonderful to learn about your work. I am sure you would be interested in joining other organizations with similar objectives, please check out the WHO network :
http://www.who.int/household_water/advocacy/combating_disease/en/index.
If you write us back we can provide you with many more documents, studies and updates on the ceramic filtration subject .
Peace
Ron Rivera
International Coordinator
Ceramic Water Filter Program
Potters For Peace www.pottersforpeace.org
Managua, Nicaragua
tel: 505 277 3807
pottersforpeace@yahoo.com
Your contributions and promotions of ceramic filters have a worldwide impact.
Therefore, I will not hesitate to join organisation that are devoted towards potable water provision.
can we partner on this project for nigeria
Micheal ALE
National Project Coordinator
SAFE WATER FOR ALL NIGERIAN CHILDREN
www.safewaterafrica.org
Please contact me direct for further information:
Email: waithak_ma@yahoo.com
Thank you
Greetings Andrew-
Many thanks for your intriguing entry.
Have you produced an actual treatment unit using the medium you describe? If so, what is its orientation (cylinder? disk? pot? something else?), and can you share results of any performance testing you've done? The specific parameters in which we would be most interested initially are:
- log removal of E. coli and/or a specific microbial pathogen in the bacterial, parasitic, or viral categories
- flow rates under different levels of hydraulic head and with source waters of different turbidities (and with respect to different particles sizes)
Optimally, it would be useful to look at some third-party performance testing. Do you have such data, or have any plans to arrange for it?
many thanks
jeff
Dear Jeff,
The treatment unit basically comprises two cylindrical aluminium cans. The dimensions are; diameter =30cm, height= 30cm for both. One is put on top of the other. The top can has a 10mm thick, 200mm diameter ceramic disk fixed at the base which is perforated.
I normally fill the top container with 20 liters of turbid water. It takes 10 hours to filtrate to the bottom container by gravity.
Bacteriological tests carried on filtrate indicated absence of E. coli. This was done by a government chemist.
Other tests are ongoing courtesy of wellwishers and will post the detailed results as I receive them.
Let me indicate here that am not limited to only one type of design. Moreover, it is possible to make candles of any size for household use, ceramic containers (cylindical or rectangular) to hold upto 100,000 litres for large water supplies.
I call it green ceramic technology that requires no firing. Nano-scale binding technology assists to knit the zeolite particles into a 3 dimensional array mesh with millions of micropores and nanopores, allowing water but not pathogens.
Thank you.
Andrew
waithak_ma@yahoo.com
Dear Andrew
Many thanks for your detailed reply, and congratulations for your early progress.
Some further questions:
1. As you know, if the device is filled only once, flow rate through the disk declines over time (as the elevation head of the water in the upper chamber drops). Have you measured flowrate as a function of head (or, more easily, volume in the upper chamber)? Also, did you measure the turbidity of your test water? I'd be curious to know both the turbidity and the particle size distribution, since more clay-rich waters will provide much more of a challenge
2. in your tests, did you measure pre-filtration E coli concentrations? It is encouraging to know that you had no detectable E. coli in the filtrate, but it would be useful to estimate a log reduction value.
And now, an observation: the fact that your innovation requires no firing is interesting indeed, but getting a much clearer comparison with conventional silver-coated porous ceramic technology will be essential to your success. I am referring not only to performance but also to the existing production and supply chain. Keep in mind that Brazilian manufactured Sterilaqua candles (produced by Ceramica Stefani for both domestic use in Brazil and export) achieve higher flowrates than you've thus far demonstrated, achieve >3 log E. coli reduction, and are sold at a very low price due to production economies of scale. You would have much to learn from their experience.
Another development to explore further is the new siphon filter design which enables much higher flowrates (through increases in elevation head) as well as backwashing capabilities. See one Ron Rivera's entries in this competition...
best of luck!
jeff
Acumen Fund
Changemakers Featured Commentator
Dear Mr. Mwangi,
It is interesting to hear about your innovation, and particularly exciting to see the comments and interest here of three real innovators in the water sector from around the world (Ron Rivera, Klaas van der Ven and Reid Harvey). I hope you truly take their encouragement and offers of support to heart.
Since at Acumen Fund we are really interested in how innovations like this can be marketed and distributed so that they reach the maximum number of people who need them, I would encourage you to identify partners that can be of assistance in lab- and field-testing the filter, as well as partners who could play a role in manufacturing and distribution. Though this is not necessarily your core expertise, you are the person in the best position to explain the potential value of this filter to potential partners.
Clearly, the fact that you are participating in this competition shows that you are ready to share what you have done and what you have learned. The next steps is find others who compliment your skills and resources who can help you take the next steps. Hopefully this community can be a part of that. Best wishes!
Yasmina
Dear Yasmina,
Thank you for the compliments. I like this forum because of the inputs by different experts from different fields and hope to form workable partnership that will help disseminate various technologies to achieve our GOAL.
I will continue to highlight more on my technology as per request by experts in this field.
Regards,
Andrew
Hi Andrew,
Zeolite is certainly a good medium for use in your filtration...best regards and thank you for your efforts to help improve the waters of the world.
Brian
Hi Brian
Thank you for the encouragement.
Andrew
Year ago I was doing research for a ceramic filter using pebbles, cement and rice husk ash. A formula for making ceramic filters developed by Tata India.
I found out that the pH of the water after the filter was extremely high (not acceptable for consumers) during many liters of water that had been filtered.
Wondering what is happening regarding pH with the new zeolite based filter?
We can arrange some bacterial tests in India at no costs if you send us some samples.
regards
Klaas van der Ven
Basic Water Needs India
bwnindia@gmail.com
Klass
Thank you for the offer to test my ceramic membranes at no cost.
I will make arrangements and send you the samples.
The pH of water need not be altered by filtration process. To ensure this, I had to subject the cement to special treatment.
Regards
Andrew
You guys seem to be on the right track, and it's great that technologies like yours and ours could grow into Africa, and other locations. I don't want to talk about pros and cons, since that may be irrelevant for now, but there do need to be more of the ceramic technologies.
Ceramic filters for household water treatment could get to be many and varied in design, in the same way that stoves, for indoor air quality, have been appropriate in ceramics. I believe you're technology is innovative, and that like ceramics in general, it needs to be an option. There may still be the perception that ceramic filters are bulky and expensive, but that viewpoint needs to be changed.
Many thanks,
Reid
Reid Harvey
SilverCeramicSystems.com
Alfred, NY USA
+508 246-1185
The number of comments here is inflated, mostly by me. Only three entries are from others, but I feel the need to say more.
Pottery, as a low technology in general, should lend itself to health interventions relating to both household water treatment and indoor air quality. In large part the application is in rural locations, in Africa, South Asia and elsewhere, where there is a tradition of village pottery.
Village potteries may not reach the ~1,000 degrees C of earthenware (aka terra cotta and pottery), where pottery water storage containers tend to be fired at around 500 to 600C. Common in the so-called third world are traditions of pottery, firing at the lower, earthenware temperatures. An additional, 'insight,' should be the synergy between the technologies of HWT and IAQ.
There is a good connection with ceramic and pottery technology, for both HWT and IAQ, and there is an opportunity for sharing and synergy.
Reid
Reid Harvey
SilverCeramicSystems.com
Alfred, NY USA
+508 246-1185
Reid
I appreciate your comments that enlighten me more on ceramic designs.
Everyone of us has a role to play ,from all corners of the world, to ensure mankind enjoys using water without endangering health.
We can achieve more if we work together.
Any innovation that cuts down on greenhouse gas emissions should be encouraged.
Regards,
Andrew
Andrew... wonderful to learn about your work. I am sure you would be interested in joining other organizations with similar objectives, please check out the WHO network :
http://www.who.int/household_water/advocacy/combating_disease/en/index.
If you write us back we can provide you with many more documents, studies and updates on the ceramic filtration subject .
Peace
Ron Rivera
International Coordinator
Ceramic Water Filter Program
Potters For Peace www.pottersforpeace.org
Managua, Nicaragua
tel: 505 277 3807
pottersforpeace@yahoo.com
Ron
Your contributions and promotions of ceramic filters have a worldwide impact.
Therefore, I will not hesitate to join organisation that are devoted towards potable water provision.
Thank you.
Andrew