Design and Fabrication of Indigenous Low Cost Water Filter Using Activated Carbon Prepared from Low Cost Materials

The present study aims to develop and design a water filter unit for groundwater using a clay pot. Efforts are being made to develop low-cost activated carbon from locally available agricultural waste, such as Areca nut husk. Locally available filter material sand and sponges are used as filter media. The main focus of experimental investigation is to test the activated carbon adsorption capacity for different water parameters. Water test samples were collected and analyzed for pH, acidity, alkalinity, hardness and chlorides tests. The activated carbon prepared by areca nut husk is analyzed under Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). SEM results show higher surface area and porosity with less ash and moisture content. The result of the study shows that the removal of impurities in groundwater from activated carbon is Acidity (CO₂acidity) - 40%, Alkalinity - 34%, Total hardness - 6.5%, and Chlorides - 24.35% with pH value of 7.5. The results obtained from the analysis suggest that the performance of activated carbon is efficient in removal of acidity, chloride and alkalinity.