Effect of Latex Addition and Sintering Time on Low-Temperature Ceramic Membranes Derived from Industrial Wastes: Spent Bleaching Earth and Waste Treatment Plant Sludge

This study investigates the effect of latex addition (۵–۱۵%) and sintering time (۱–۳ hours) on the physicochemical properties of low-temperature (۴۵۰ °C) ceramic membranes fabricated from spent bleaching earth (SBE) and waste treatment plant sludge (WTPS). The approach targets a sustainable waste-to-resource route with reduced energy demand. Dimensional stability (diameter and volume shrinkage), mass evolution (weight loss), and structure-related properties (density, water absorption, and porosity) were systematically evaluated. The results show that increasing sintering time intensifies shrinkage and weight loss, reflecting progressive burnout of the organic phase and particle rearrangement at low temperature. Latex content governs microstructural outcomes: ۱۰% latex yields the highest density (۱.۳۰–۱.۳۲ g/cm⁻³) with moderate porosity (۳۵–۳۸%) and the lowest water absorption (۲۶–۲۹%), indicating efficient particle packing and balanced pore formation. In contrast, ۱۵% latex promotes a more open structure, evidenced by higher porosity (up to ۴۱%) and water absorption (up to ۳۷%), while ۵% latex shows non-monotonic behavior due to competition between pore generation and partial structural reorganization. Overall, the study demonstrates that microstructure can be precisely tuned at ۴۵۰ °C by adjusting latex content and sintering time, enabling the design of ceramic membranes that balance dimensional stability, density, and pore openness. These findings validate a low-energy, circular approach for converting industrial solid wastes into functional membrane materials.

کلیدواژه ها:

Waste-to-resource ، Sustainable materials ، Low-energy processing ، Industrial solid waste ، Ceramic membranes