Porous ceramic materials based on magnesium oxide for water purification from oil products

Abstract

This study investigated the development of highly efficient nanoporous filters for purifying water contaminated with petroleum products using sol-gel technology. A hybrid nanocomposite consisting of MgO:SiO₂:CaO:BaO, shaped into disks, was fabricated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed the formation of a uniform porous structure consisting of spherical nanoparticles with diameters ranging from 33 to 74 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the composite composition, in which magnesium oxide accounts for approximately 82%, and the alloyed components are uniformly distributed. The resulting ceramic materials exhibit high adsorption capacity for petroleum products, reaching up to 180% of the material weight when heat- treated at temperatures ranging from 600 to 650°C. A prototype of a practical multilayer filter has been developed, demonstrating high water purification efficiency. The obtained ceramic materials based on magnesium oxide are suitable for the manufacture of filters for purifying oil- contaminated waters.