EVALUATION OF COMPOSITES FROM NANO-CLAY AND RECYCLED POLYTHENE TEREPHATHALATES FOR POINT-OF-USE WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS

Abstract: In the present study, point-of-use (POU) water filtration systems were fabricated using montmorillonite clay and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and evaluated for use in rural communities of Nigeria, including internally displaced person’s (IDP) camps. Both montmorillonite clay and polyethylene terephthalate were sourced locally from sites around Makurdi in Benue State – Nigeria. The PET was processed to micro size and sieved on a No. 2 microns sieve to obtain 0.07 µm particles while clay was processed into Nano particles and mixed with the micron sized PET particles in an industrial mixer to obtain a homogenous content. Five (5) cup-shaped filter samples were produced using five different weight percent (wt.%) ratios (Nano-clay/PET) of 50:50, 60:40, 70:30, 80:20 and 90:10 - designated as A, B, C, D and E respectively. The filter samples were aged and cured in an oven at 130oC (above glass transition temperature) for about 30 mins to cause distortion on the PET particles to create predetermined pore sizes. The filter samples were evaluated on the basis of mechanical (shatter index), physical (water absorption, porosity and flow rate), chemical (water pH, total dissolved solids and turbidity) and biological (microbial removal efficiency) properties. Results of shatter index test indicated that all samples exhibited shatter resistance of well over 90% indicating high durability and ability to withstand handling stresses especially during packaging and transportation. Analyses of the untreated and treated water samples showed removal efficiencies for turbidity, TDS, and TSS as 79%, 64% and 62% respectively. All results obtained were within the WHO limit. In general, all the samples showed excellent performance in the removal of harmful microbes for all bacteria studied, while samples D and E demonstrated an improved capacity to eliminate E. coli and total coliform. Based on ANOVA, it was concluded that filter sample C which high significance, comprising 70 wt% fine-clay and 30 wt% PET met the most standard requirements for point-of-use drinking water filter quality. This sample also exhibited the fastest discharge of 1.92 litres/hr compared to the other samples. Filter sample C was therefore recommended for use by rural communities as it consistently produced high-quality water that complied with most turbidity and microbiological limits for drinking water. Keywords: Nano-clay/PET; Point-of-use; Water filtration; flow rate; Turbidity; microbial removal efficiency. Title: EVALUATION OF COMPOSITES FROM NANO-CLAY AND RECYCLED POLYTHENE TEREPHATHALATES FOR POINT-OF-USE WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS Author: Abugh Ashwe, Embassy Msuega Akume International Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Technology ISSN 2348-7593 (Online) Vol. 13, Issue 2, October 2025 - March 2026 Page No: 22-36 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 28-October-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17463733 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/evaluation-of-composites-from-nano-clay-and-recycled-polythene-terephathalates-for-point-of-use-water-filtration-systems