Development of a low cost micro-porous ceramic membrane from kaolin and Alumina, using the lignite as porogen agent

The manufacturing of low cost ceramic flat and tubular membranes via dry pressing and extrusion, using low cost material, namely, natural kaolin, Alumina, and lignite as a pore forming agent was the purpose in this study. These membranes are designed to be used as a support for multilayer ceramic membranes. This study includes the preparation and the characterization of the different membranes. The selected composition was 20% of lignite, 15% of Alumina and 65% of Kaolin, the membranes have been obtained at 1200 degrees C as a sintering temperature. The membranes show good behavior for both configurations, with a porosity above 36% and a mechanical strength of 39 MPa or the tubular membranes and 34% for the flat ones. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.