JOURNAL OF THE GHANA SCIENCE ASSOCIATION

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.

Abstract: This study investigates the nutritional composition of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from aquaculture systems (tanks, cages, and ponds) and wild sources in the Asuogyaman District of Ghana. The focus was on their contributions to the Recommended Nutritional Intakes (RNIs) for vulnerable groups, including children, pregnant and lactating women (PLW), and the elderly. A total of 40 Nile tilapia samples were analysed, comprising 10 from each culture system (tank, cage, and pond) with a common water source, and 10 from wild sources. The proximate composition—comprising moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrates, and ash—was consistent across systems, with protein content ranging from 15.9 to 17.3 g/100 g and lipid content ranging from 0.52 to 1.54 g/100 g. Energy values were highest in cage-cultured tilapia (87.93 kcal/100 g) and lowest in tank-cultured fish (79.88 kcal/100 g). Mineral analysis showed that farmed tilapia, especially those from pond systems, had more calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc than wild tilapia. The iron contribution to RNIs was particularly significant from pond-cultured tilapia, reaching up to 30.1% of the RNI for adults and PLW. Wild tilapia, although nutritionally beneficial, provided lesser contributions to the RNIs, particularly for calcium and zinc. Furthermore, the sodium-to-potassium (Na/K) ratio varied across systems, with tank-cultured tilapia showing the most favourable balance for cardiovascular health (Na/K = 0.35). These findings emphasise the nutritional advantages of farmed tilapia, especially in improving mineral intake in vulnerable populations. The study provides important insights for aquaculture policy and consumer guidance, focusing on tilapia’s potential to address micronutrient deficiencies in Ghana.

Keywords: Proximate, Nile Tilapia, Ghana, Vulnerable groups, Recommended Nutritional Intakes, Culture systems.

Abstract: The construction of an affordable and environmentally friendly water purification system for domestic usage is the main goal of this study. The model was designed part by part in the ordered environment of the Solid Edge 2021 version, after which it was assembled as one component in the assembly environment. It integrates a compact sand-charcoal filter with solar disinfection (UV radiation and thermal effects). Performance evaluation of the system was done using dam water with a turbidity of 185 NTU and a pH of 6.70. Without alum, the system reduced turbidity to 151 NTU (removal efficiency of 18.4%). With alum coagulation, turbidity decreased to 9 NTU (removal efficiency of 95.1%). The performance with alum exceeds the WHO standard of ≤5 NTU, likely due to unoptimized alum dosing and/or settling time. In addition, the pH of raw water decreased from 6.70 to 6.34, corresponding to 5.9% reduction, for both alum-treated and untreated samples, which is slightly below the WHO standards. Despite not fully meeting WHO standards, the system demonstrates potential as a low-cost, sustainable pre-treatment option for rural households. This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 6, and 13. Further tests could confirm the system’s microbial disinfection efficacy.

Keywords: Turbidity, pH, solar disinfection, sand filtration, alum coagulation, potable water, sustainable development goals.