Our goal:  to be fully informative concerning the silver ceramic options
23 April 2004
About Tutorial Content:  All one needs to know regarding the purifier and system production is to be found at the eight icon links of the home page header.  See below.

Silver saturating white candles from the market:  what to watch out for
Shown at right, top, is the pottery purifier candle of the project's current system.  Below this there are three imported candles, from the local market.  Of the wide variety and type of such candles available in the markets, a number of these indicate design flaws, proper ceramic techniques not having been followed. 

There would appear to be a good question as to whether such candles from the market could be silver treated subsequent to purchase.  Note that most such candles were not silver treated at the time of their manufacture.

Along with the candles shown in the photo, two pure silver coins can be seen at right.  Such coins are the source of silver for the candles.
Several common problems for candles bought from the markets include:  1.  If candles were pressed with the sides of the cylinder first, then secondly a ceramic cover cap for the top, then the flow rate at the interface of the two pressings will be much too high.  Preferable is a candle that is pressed once, the sides and top at the same time.  For twice pressed candles there can be an unfortunate tendency for bacteria to get into the filtered water, following the path provided by the interface between these pressings.  2.  Secondary material, like white cement, is sometimes plastered into the inside of the white candles.  It would appear that this is done to inhibit flow, in the event that of the flow rate of the candle had been too high.  3.  Wall thickness may not be uniform, so the rate of flow may be faster at thinner portions and slower at thicker portions.

However in many cases these kinds of problems would not prevent the use of such candles.  And there should be a good possibility of treating and marketing these to low income groups or in humanitarian situations. Any project undertaking such an effort would need to study and assess the candles, brand by brand, prior to acceptance.  It should also be born in mind that such candles in the market were probably designed for users whose water was already of relatively good quality.  Such users may tend to regard their candle systems as a secondary purification for their piped water. 

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Tutorials

Teach yourself, with email support, to make the low cost, pottery water purifiers.  The purpose of these tutorials is to encourage any would-be producers of pottery purifier media to follow the steps necessary in teaching themselves the production.  These persons are encouraged to communicate with further questions and observations.  The eight icon links of the tutorial follow, vertical left, with descriptions given as to the tutorial and information content of each section.

Made easy, teach yourself the production 
of silver pottery purifiers for household use
One feature of tutorial content is the use of a 'hot tip' icon as shown here.  This icon is not a link.  Rather, it is a highlighter, for some particular trick of the trade. 
The methodologies of making pottery purifiers are not complicated but they are many and varied.  There are eight parts, as indicated by the eight icons, in an effort to present discrete elements of the whole.  It is hoped that this approach will help simplify the learning process. 
You are presently on the Purifier System page, the location of this tutorial introduction.  Following describes the tutorial and/ or the information content per icon link.  Distinctions are also made between the solid purifier and the particulate grog purifier, leading, in some cases to several different tutorials per icon link. 
The workshops include trainings and demonstrations of the pottery purifier systems, as well as silver ceramic systems in general.  These are tailored to individual situations, of course.  Ask for a typical outline of content scope and sequence.  A past icon link for Workshop Needs had a beginning list of some of the kinds of apparatus necessary to a filter business. 
The solid, pottery purifier candle is a highly processed ceramic ware.  Unlike other forms of pottery, wherein simple clay is the basic material, for the pottery purifier there is a requirement of pre-fired 'grog,' material made from a parent clay.  Though a purifier may be 50/ 50 grog to clay, is is comprised, virtually 100%, of this single clay material.  This link explains the details of making grog and processing the other materials, as well as composition of the candle.
The purifier constituents, as combined for pressing, could be described as a 'damp press composition.'  This is by contrast to the typical 'moist body' of most pottery wares.  Whereas the moist body tends to be about 35% water, the damp body of the candle is around 15%, and resembles a powder.  Varying amounts of pressure can be used, whatever amount that will give a candle that is cohesive and well formed.
Candles fired at the upper temperatures can indicate an increase in flow rate, and additional strength is also implicit.  Also covered is the question as to what happens to the purifiers, and silver situation, with increasing temperature.  And what are the requirements for finishing, following the firing of purifiers?
Colloidal silver methodologies are explained along with the silver treatment alternatives of silver nitrate and silver chloride.  And there is an explanation of the relationship between the amount of silver and the percentage removal of pathogens.  And when to fire and when not to fire can be confusing distinctions, and this link explains the implications with respect to silver..
Not an afterthought, quality control should be the first icon, in the sense of it's importance.  Several tests on the ceramics need to be done routinely, in order to insure that the subsequent purifiers will do their job of bacteria removal.  i.e.  1.  ceramic tests, and, 2. bacteriological tests. 3.  tests and instruments needed for production of the colloidal silver.  Also included are the various needs for safety in the workshop environment.
A few collaborators are listed, Potters for Peace, Cranfield University (UK) and others, describing their members' contributions to the understanding of silver ceramic filters.  And a question and answer section will soon become a feature.

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Please address inquiries and observations to:
Reid Harvey
Ceramic Designer
pottery@wlink.com.np
 

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