Sawdust: From wood waste to pore-former in the fabrication of ceramic membrane

Abstract The extensive uses of pore-formers are considered to be a major factor for determining morphology in ceramic membrane fabrication, but the behavior of pore-formers during membrane fabrication remains unverified. Five different size ranges of sawdust screened through 30, 44, 60, 72 and 100 B.S.S. meshes (500, 355, 250, 212, and 150 μm) are utilized as a pore-former and are believed to influence on membrane porosity, pore size and surface texture. Two series of experiments have been conducted; the first set of experiment is planned to determine thermal behavior and particle size of sawdust as well as the change in physical properties of sawdust when burnt in the presence of air and the sustainability of raw and burnt-sawdust in acid and alkali media. The second set of experiment is the selection of appropriate sized sawdust particle for the fabrication of ceramic membrane based on first set of experiments for understanding the behavior of sawdust during membrane fabrication. Sawdust samples are characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive x-ray (EDX). Chemical sustainability of sawdust is verified using acid–alkali test. Based on the experimental data, it is concluded that there is an obvious effect of sawdust on the morphology of fabricated membrane and the sawdust screened through 44 B.S.S. mesh is selected for the fabrication of membrane for our purpose. The mechanical strength of the membrane is also noteworthy.