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Journal of the Ghana Science Association · Volume 24(2) · May 2026

JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION

Vol 24 (2) | Date of Publication: 30th May 2026
ISSN: 2737-713X (Online) | e-ISSN: 0855-3823
Advancing Scientific Research and Innovation in Ghana
Volume 24(1) – April 2026 Volume 24(2) – May 2026 Volume 25(1) – Coming Soon

Table of Contents · Volume 24 No. 2 (May 2026)

Indexed on Scopus
1
Research Articles
4
Total Authors
15
Pages (Total)
pp. 1–15
THE MANUFACTURE AND MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF NNSUPA NON-CHEMICAL CERAMIC FILTER CANDLE IN THE PURIFICATION OF WATER IN GHANA
Authors: *1Michael Commeh, 2James Hawkins Ephraim, 3Kwabena Bonsu Kusi, 4David Dodoo-Arhin
  1. Technology Consultancy Centre, College of Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST – Kumasi, Ghana
  2. Comeph & Associates Ghana. Ltd., Oyarifa, Accra, Ghana
  3. Smart Aid Consult, Kumasi Innovation Hub, KNUST – Kumasi, Ghana
  4. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Ghana, P. O. Box LG 77, Legon-Accra, Ghana
Corresponding Author: mcommeh.tcc@knust.edu.gh
Abstract: Ceramic household water filters have been identified as a simple and scalable water treatment technology to help meet the world’s growing demand for potable and affordable drinking water. However, the high cost and potentially toxic nature of colloidal silver, which is mostly used in filter manufacturing, have made it essential to develop affordable and safer ceramic filters. This study fabricated and investigated the morphological characteristics of the Nnsupa ceramic filter for water treatment. Locally sourced clays mixed with starch were moulded, dried, and fired to produce filters called NHCWF filters. The structural properties, microscopic characteristics, and physicochemical parameters of the filters were then characterised. Scanning Electron Microscopy showed a closely packed ceramic structure with scattered porosity. The filters showed multilayer adsorption with a type IV isotherm during gas physisorption analysis, which, combined with mercury intrusion porosimetry, demonstrated the presence of micropores, mesopores, and macropores. The pore sizes of the filters ranged from 0.01 to 10.0 μm, with log reduction values ranging between 4 (99.99%) and 5 (99.999%), which meet both Ghanaian and WHO drinking water standards. Fourier transform infrared analysis also indicated the presence of functional groups consumed over time when the filters were used. The average flow rate of filtered water under gravity was 0.27 L h-1 with an experimental filtering setup that used the NHCWF filter. This study has shown that the NHCWF presents as a feasible alternative to conventional silver-embedded ceramic filters used in household production of potable drinking water.

Keywords: Ceramic water filtering, non-chemical filter, sustainable water treatment, low-cost water treatment, innovative filtering.
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