Clay pot filter
Encyclopedia
The clay pot filter purifies water by passing it through the pores of a ceramic
which has been fired in an open dung fire. These filters, intended to be affordable for developing countries, were developed by an Australian materials scientist and potter, Tony Flynn.
mixed with a fine-grained organic waste material such as coffee grounds, tea leaves or rice hulls. Coffee grounds have been found to give the best results. The filter is made in the shape of a cup, then fired without a kiln, using cow manure and a handful of grass and leaves. The organic matter is burnt away, leaving only silica remnant and tiny holes in the filter. As water passes through the tiny holes, it is purified. Water passing through initially tastes soil or is alkalinehttp://www.asciencejournal.net/asj/index.php/NES/article/view/97/PLAPPALLY. The taste of water improves with time.
bacteria. It does not remove viruses.
project in Manatuto
, East Timor
. The local clay was found to be too fine for water filters, but this was solved by adding organic matter.
Ceramic
A ceramic is an inorganic, nonmetallic solid prepared by the action of heat and subsequent cooling. Ceramic materials may have a crystalline or partly crystalline structure, or may be amorphous...
which has been fired in an open dung fire. These filters, intended to be affordable for developing countries, were developed by an Australian materials scientist and potter, Tony Flynn.
Production
These filters are made from a suitable clayClay
Clay is a general term including many combinations of one or more clay minerals with traces of metal oxides and organic matter. Geologic clay deposits are mostly composed of phyllosilicate minerals containing variable amounts of water trapped in the mineral structure.- Formation :Clay minerals...
mixed with a fine-grained organic waste material such as coffee grounds, tea leaves or rice hulls. Coffee grounds have been found to give the best results. The filter is made in the shape of a cup, then fired without a kiln, using cow manure and a handful of grass and leaves. The organic matter is burnt away, leaving only silica remnant and tiny holes in the filter. As water passes through the tiny holes, it is purified. Water passing through initially tastes soil or is alkalinehttp://www.asciencejournal.net/asj/index.php/NES/article/view/97/PLAPPALLY. The taste of water improves with time.
Effectiveness
The filter has been found to remove 96.4 to 99.7% of E. coliEscherichia coli
Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded organisms . Most E. coli strains are harmless, but some serotypes can cause serious food poisoning in humans, and are occasionally responsible for product recalls...
bacteria. It does not remove viruses.
Origin
The filter was invented as a result of a World VisionWorld Vision
World Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...
project in Manatuto
Manatuto
Manatuto is a city and one of the subdistricts of Manatuto District/East Timor.-The city:Manatuto Vila has 1,924 inhabitants and is capital of the subdistrict and district Manatuto. It is on the north coast of Timor, located 64 km to the east of Dili, the national capital, on the way to Baucau...
, East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
. The local clay was found to be too fine for water filters, but this was solved by adding organic matter.
External links
- New filter promises clean water for millions Press release from Australian National UniversityAustralian National UniversityThe Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
- Catalyst - transcript of segment from an Australian science show.
- Filter - Instructions for making the filter.
- The Ceramic Filtration System - Detailed View - FAQ, & in brief. Resources Development International - Cambodia.