This book covers advances in fabrication, characterization and applications of low-cost ceramic membranes, especially using natural minerals and industrial wastes. Multiple aspects on design and selection of both materials and fabrication processes have been explored to identify the prospective formulations for manufacturing low-cost membranes primarily based on cheaper sources of alumina and silica. The contents further highlight the developments towards commercialization of low-cost ceramic membranes including the way forward to address the future challenges by the researchers.
The prohibitive cost of ceramic membranes manufactured from synthetic powders restricts their wide spread applications in spite of some unique performance advantages of ceramic membranes for separation under harsh and challenging conditions. In this context, the focus on development of such newer generation ceramic membranes assumes significant importance and offers immense potential in extending the scope of applications of low-cost ceramic membranes. This book is beneficial to academics and practitioners alike.
Low cost mullite and mullite Al2O3 composite membranes.- Development and application of low cost ceramic porous membranes based on apatite for wastewater treatment.- Low cost pozzolan based membranes for microfiltration, ultrafiltration and pervaporation applications.- Fabrication of fly ash and kaolin based low-cost ceramic membrane.- Fabrication of low cost ceramic capillary membranes and their applications.
Dr. Sibdas Bandyopadhyay was awarded Ph.D. (Applied Chemistry) from the erstwhile Indian School of Mines (Indian Institute of Technology-ISM), Dhanbad, India in 1981. He pursued applied research at ISM specializing in utilization of low-grade china clays and pozzolanic clays. In 1982, Dr. Bandyopadhyay joined CSIR- North East Institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Jorhat, Assam for carrying out industrial research on mini cement plants, beneficiation and agglomeration of iron ore fines under CSIR-SAIL collaborative programme. Subsequently, Dr. Bandyopadhyay served CSIR- Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI), Kolkata for 23 years and as the founder of ceramic membrane activities, he initiated application oriented research on development of low-cost ceramic membranes and their utilization in the purification of arsenic and iron contaminated ground water for downsizing the community models for production of quality drinking water. After serving CSIR for 30 years, Dr. Bandyopadhyay joined his alma mater as adjunct professor in the Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, IIT-ISM. During 2014 -2017, he was associated with the Department of Environmental Studies, Visva-Bharati (A Central University), Santiniketan, India as CSIR Emeritus Scientist for system design on fluoride removal. Currently, he is attached with an international NGO, Water for People, for community application of membrane based treatment process and reuse of wastewater.
