Rice husk ash–fly ash‐based composite ceramic membranes for effective dye removal

Abstract This study presents the preparation of ceramic composite membranes from rice husk ash and fly ash for the efficient removal of dye contaminants from industrial wastewater. This study aimed to develop environmentally sustainable and economically feasible membrane materials using industrial and agricultural waste products. The membranes were prepared by uniaxial pressing and sintering at temperatures ranging from 650 to 950°C. The ratio of rice husk ash to fly ash was selected to enhance the mechanical strength, porosity, and permeability of the membrane. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to examine the structural, morphological, and chemical properties of the samples. The prepared membranes exhibited a homogeneous porous structure and acceptable thermal and mechanical performance. The highest porosity was 32.46% with an average pore diameter of 1.88 μm. Permeability tests conducted at a transmembrane pressure of 0.5–2 bar showed that the membrane sintered at 750°C exhibited maximum permeability, with a range of 53–120 L/ (m 2 h). The membranes exhibited a high removal efficiency for malachite green dye, which was 99.74% at a concentration of 10 mg/L and decreased to 85.96% at a concentration of 110 mg/L. In conclusion, the results indicate the great potential of rice husk ash–fly ash composite ceramic membranes as a low‐cost and eco‐friendly method for treating of dye‐contaminated industrial effluents.