We fabricated and characterized a highly hydrophilic membrane support using only perlite as an ore without altering its chemical and physical properties. Tubular-type microfiltration supports were fabricated by an extrusion technique. Plastic perlite paste was obtained by adding organic additives and water. The extruded samples were carefully dried to prevent cracks during the drying period of 6 days with a controlled drying temperature and humidity. Green bodies were sintered at temperatures of 1000 oC, 1025 oC, and 1050 oC for 1, 3, and 6 hours. Tubular membrane supports were characterized in terms of microstructure, porosity, pore size distribution and crystalline phases. Additionally, the hydrophilicity of the samples was determined by a thin layer wicking (TLW) approach. The water contact angles of the samples sintered at 1025 oC for 3 hours were determined to be 20 o, and the porosity and mean pore size of the sample were 23.54% and 13 μm, respectively. The clean water permeability of the sample was 10.677 L/h.m2bar. According to the results, the obtained sample functions well as a highly hydrophilic membrane support, and it is also a good candidate for a filter used in macro- and microfiltration processes. Filtration tests indicated that the median particle size of the solids in waste water is 500 nm, with a turbidity of 100 NTU, and the waste water can be cleaned by the newly fabricated perlite tubular ceramics up to a turbidity level of 0.35 NTU, which is acceptable in various industries.

Keywords: Perlite, Membrane, Cross-flow, Support.