Potter's Clay Research Articles

Characterization and application of novel fly ash blended ceramic membrane in MFC for low-cost and sustainable wastewater treatment and power generation.

Field-scale application of the microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology faces a major constraint due to the widely used high-cost proton exchange membrane Nafion, prompting lately, the development of ceramic membranes using different clay minerals. In the present study, the characteristics and applicability of a novel ceramic membrane fabricated using potter's clay (C) blended with varying proportions (0, 5, 10, and 20wt%) of fly ash (FA), designated as CFA0, CFA5, CFA10, and CFA20, were assessed for cost-effective and sustainable use in MFC. On assessing the properties of the membrane, CFA10 was found to exhibit superior quality with fine pore size distribution (average 0.49μm) favoring higher water uptake and less oxygen diffusion. The CFA10 membrane showed a maximum proton mass transfer coefficient (4.32 ± 0.04 × 10-5cm/s) that was about three times that of the control CFA0. The oxygen mass transfer coefficient of CFA10 was 5.13 ± 0.12 × 10-5cm/s, which was about 40% less than in the control. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of CFAmembrane revealed the richness of quartz, which facilitates proton conductance and water retention. The CFA10 membrane fitted MFC demonstrated a peak power output of 4.57W/m3 (twice that in CFA0) with an average of 80.02 ± 0.86% COD removal and 68.03 ± 0.13% coulombic efficiency in a long-term study indicating its improved applicability and durability. Electrochemical kinetics involving cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) also affirmed the efficacy of CFA10 membrane in MFC showing peak current output of 13.95mA and low ohmic resistance (74.2 Ω). The novel (CFA10) ceramic membrane amalgamated with the coal fly ash, a waste of concern, shows promise for high MFC performance at a much reduced (98% less) cost that can be used for sustainable scale-up of the technology.

MORPHOLOGICAL VARIABILITY OFCICONIA BOYCIANA(AVES: CICONIIDAE) TRACKS IN HOMOGENEOUS SEDIMENT

ABSTRACTThe morphological variability of Ciconia boyciana (oriental white stork) tracks is documented in an actualistic ichnological experiment using wet potter's clay. Measurements were obtained from 54 tracks left by two individuals comprising area, length, width, depth, volume, and rotation for each track. The trackmakers were also filmed while walking. An anatomical feature unique to C. boyciana is that, unlike other wading birds, it does not leave metatarsophalangeal pad impressions. This feature can be used to distinguish C. boyciana tracks from those left by other birds of similar body weight and habitat. Track width varied by up to 30%, with wider tracks showing more splayed digits occurring in trackways with shorter stride length and larger trackway width. Conversely, narrow trackways with a large stride length were composed of tracks with a smaller digit divarication. Coefficient analysis of track geometry revealed that the widths and depths of tracks vary inversely to maintain a consistent volume. Sorting the C. boyciana tracks into morphological types (14 types for avians with four digits) demonstrates the result that most tracks are deeper between digits III and IV than between digits II and III. Combining track data with video footage shows that C. boyciana moves its hips from side to side while walking. Noting that the tracks within any given trackway are outwardly rotated, we interpret this track morphology as resulting from laterally directed pressure exerted primarily through digit IV.

Design and development of porous terracotta disc: An eco-friendly novel control agent for mosquito larvae

In the present work, we synthesized silver nanoparticles supported by rice husk by hydrothermal treatment, as-synthesized silver nanoparticles rice husk (AgNPs-RH) bio-composite mixed with potter clay thoroughly, molded, dried into a disc-shaped before firing and applying as a point of use larvicidal agent. As designed, porous terracotta disc (PTD) infused with AgNPs-RH-biocomposite were characterized by UV spectrophotometer, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The amount of silver ions released from the PTD was also found to be within the prescribed limit of 0.1 ppm-level. Later we dropped the PTD and tested its larvicidal activity against the IVth instar larva stage of Aedes, Anopheles and Culex species. We found 100% larvicidal mortality in 24 h of exposure to the designed PTD and the amount of silver released from the porous disc was found to be 0.0343 ppm. Further from the histopathological studies of dead larvae revealed that the silver ions from the PTD have substantially damaged the exoskeleton of larvae.

Interdisciplinary examinations carried out on heterogeneous coarse ceramics from Neolithic lakeside settlements in the Northern Alpine Foreland (3900–3500 BCE): Analysis strategy and preliminary results from a test series using pXRF

In recent decades numerous Neolithic lakeside and wetland settlements have been investigated in Switzerland, southern Germany and eastern France. The finds from these settlements indicate that complex relationships and close contacts existed between the inhabitants of different settlements and regions. This can be seen in ceramic vessels that exhibit similarities to those from other regions based on their style, manufacturing technique and raw materials. Although the use of chemical and archaeometric analyses to determine the origin of pottery has been well established for years and despite promising investigations, such analyses have hardly ever been carried out in the study region; as a result, the topic of mobility has rarely been examined. In order to better understand mobility patterns in Neolithic societies by combining stylistic analyses with a chemical characterisation of the potter's clay used, this paper explores the use of portable energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) analysis as a means of chemically characterising ceramics. Since studies on the use of pXRF to examine handmade, heterogeneous and coarsely tempered ceramics are rare, it seems necessary to evaluate the method. This paper presents the development of a strategy for the analysis of large series of handmade coarse ceramics from prehistoric settlements. Two examples illustrate the possibilities of and limitations to pXRF analysis on pottery for the detection of mobility patterns of Neolithic societies in the Northern Alpine Foreland.

Potter about with clay

This series of articles will explore modelling in the early years setting, using practical ideas to enrich your children's learning across the foundation stage – this month, we look at the use of potter's clay.

Evidence of plaggen soils in SW Norway

AbstractThis study aimed at clarifying whether a notable group of soils of the Jæren region, SW Norway, with deep humus‐rich top soils support a man‐made genesis. Four sites were investigated. The soils are characterized by thick top soils of 45, 70, 80, and 90 cm, which are enriched in soil organic matter and often also in artifacts, like fragments of potter's clay, indicating an anthropogenic origin. Soil pH ranges from 5.4 to 6.2 (H2O) and 4.4 to 5.3 (CaCl2), respectively. Soil organic C (SOC) contents range from 6.4 to 51.6 g kg−1 and N contents vary between 0 and 2.9 g kg−1. Increased P contents of up to 2,924.3 mg kg−1 total P (Pt) and 1,166.4 mg kg−1 citric acid‐soluble phosphorus (Pc) in the humus‐rich top soils support the assumption of an anthropogenic influence. Although many characteristics indicate an anthropogenic genesis, one soil lacks the required depth of 50 cm of a plaggen horizon and cannot be classified as Plaggic Anthrosol (WRB) and Plagganthrept (US Soil Taxonomy). As the requirement is 40 cm in the German system, all soils can be classified as Plaggenesch. The formation of these soils is related to human activity aiming at increasing soil fertility and overcoming the need of bedding material, the basic aims of the plaggen management in Europe. Highest P contents ever found for this kind of soils and references from the literature indicate that the formation of the soils in Norway started at Viking time, hence, being older than most other Plaggic Anthrosols.

Developing Preschoolers' Science Vocabulary through Clay Explorations

The purpose of this study was to determine the improvement in descriptive vocabulary of preschool children as a result of lessons that focused on the physical properties of clay. During a six-lesson art-science unit, four and five year old children used familiar artificial clay, unfamiliar modeling clay, mud, and natural potter's clay to experiment with different techniques and to make a pinch pot, which they subsequently glazed and had fired. Throughout the lessons, descriptive vocabulary was repeatedly modeled and reinforced. Two pretest-posttest instruments were administered. Students improved in demonstrating targeted vocabulary words (e.g. pinch, bend, coil, flat) with a mean of 50% of the students demonstrating each of the sixteen words correctly on the pretest compared to 81% on the posttest. Students were also assessed on vocabulary used as they verbally described wet and dry natural clay samples and unglazed and glazed ceramic pieces. Again, students showed a significant increase in speaking vocabulary. However, passive and observational tasks, requiring little or no use of language and vocabulary, revealed minimal acquisition of targeted vocabulary.

Sorption of radiocobalt on pottery

SummaryRemoval of the radioactive tracer60Co from solution using pottery and its raw material (potter's clay) was studied at different conditions. The results confirmed that pottery (as a natural cheap material) has a high ability to sorb the radiotracer. The rate of sorption was found to increase with increasing surface area of the sorbent, shaking time, amount of sorbent and pH of the aqueous solution. The sorption by the potter's clay material was found to be slightly higher than the pottery, because of the presence of humic, and other organic, materials. The capacity of the sorbents for the sorption of Co2+was found 10.35, 9.68, mmole metal/g sorbent for raw and pottery, respectively. The sorption behavior is described by a Freundlich type isotherm, within the experimental Co2+concentrations used. The sorption mechanism was suggested to occurviaadsorption and ion exchange.By using a pottery container (pot) as a filtering device, low level radioactive waste solution containing60Co +(152,154)Eu or60Co +(152,154)Eu +65Zn were completely decontaminated.

Preparation of Porous Ceramic Materials Dispersed with Activated Carbon from Industrial Solid Wastes and their Characterization

In order to solve environmental problems, such as the shortage of dump yards and the exhaust of toxic gases by incineration of the industrial solid wastes (ISW), the development of a new method to prepare porous adsorbents from ISW's was investigated. Sludge from gravel plants and sawdust from wood plants were used as ISW'. A mixture of the sludge, sawdust, and clay minerals added as caking additive was kneaded together with an appropriate amount of waster or activator aqueous solution. The kneaded mixture was molded in a cylindrical shape by extrusion, and then calcined for 1h under N2 atmosphere. The prepared calcined bodies had a porous structure with pore sizes of micron order. It was found by the methylene blue adsorption measurement in aqueous media that relatively high adsorption capacity (ca. 70mg/g) was attained in case of the carbon-ceramics porous composite, which was calcined at 850°C with 14.5mequiv./g-sawdust of K2CO3 as activator and potter's clay as caking additive. These results indicate that porous ceramic materials dispersed with activated carbon can be prepared from ISW, and an appropriate amount of activator and caking additive with low cation exchangeable ability are effective to enhance the adsorbability for methylene blue.

An improved method of taking cores in sandy sediments

Quantitative sampling of a sandy stream sediment by tube coring proved to be impossible: The interstitial and supernatant water leaked as soon as the tube was opened. The determination of phosphorus compounds and microbiological parameters in the interstitial water was not feasible. An improvement of the standard method is described. Sealing sandy sediment cores by using potter's clay, prevented leaking out of interstitial waters and maintained the vertical structure in the sandy column.

明治後期における陶磁器業の発展と同業組合活動

In this paper we examine the activities of the local trade associations (dogyo kumiai) in the case of pottery industry. In the latter half of the Meiji period, the production of the pottery increased, and some traditional production districts like Nagoya, Seto, Tono, Tokoname, Kyoto and Arita continued to increase their output. Out of these districts we select Seto, Tokoname and Kyoto, and investigate the activities of the trade associations in these three districts.In Seto district a large quantity of tableware was produced and the ratio of the export to the total output was high. In Tokoname the earthen pipe for the domestic market was mainly produced. And in Kyoto much of the ornament was exported to the foreign market. So, judging from the markets for their products and the makeup of them, these production areas can be classified into three different types.The trade association in Seto carried out the inspection of manufuctured goods, held exhibitions and contests, assisted exhibition hall financially, and mined and distributed potter's clay. But a tableware was not inspected by the trade association. In Tokoname the trade association inspected earthen pipe and conducted various researches. And in Kyoto the trade association held exhibitions and contests and supported financially the municipal pottery research center.These three trade associations did not act in the same way. We find that the activities of these trade associations were influenced by the difference of the markets for their products, the makeup of them and the supply side conditions of the potter's clay. And therefore the activities of them contributed effectively to the development of pottery industry in each production district.

貴金属粘土の開発

Precious Metals Plasticine (PMP), a mixture of precious metal powder and organic binder, has been developed. By using it, various shapes of precious metals can be made easily by hand forming, just as with paper clay or potter's clay. The dried PMP can be carved just as gypsum or plaster of Paris. Hollow parts can be also made from the clay using a clayey core material. PMP sheet has also been developed by changing the composition of binder, and it can be folded into figure. In this paper, the manufacturing processes and properties of PMP is described and some applications are introduced.

Defluoridation of drinking water with pottery: effect of firing temperature

Excessive fluoride (F) in drinking water should be removed, but simple, inexpensive methods of fluoride removal are not readily available. This study examines the F(-)-binding capacity of clay and clayware, especially the effect of the firing temperature on the F(-)-binding process. A series of pots were made from ordinary potter's clay and fired at 500-1000 degrees C. Likewise, small clay bricks were fired and then crushed and sieved. NaF solutions containing 10 mg/l F- (10 ppm F-) were prepared. Suitable aliquots of the solutions were poured into clay pots or exposed to powdered clayware. Samples were taken at storage periods of 30 min to 20 days and analyzed for F- by ion-selective electrodes. The rate and capacity of F(-)-binding in the clayware varied with the firing temperature. Clay fired at approximately 600 degrees C was most effective. Temperatures over 700 degrees C caused a decline in F(-)-binding, and pottery fired at 900 degrees C and above seemed unable to remove F- from water. Pots fired at 500 degrees C or less cracked in water. The findings indicate that clayware, fired at an optimal temperature, may be of practical value for partial defluoridation of drinking water.

The Family Clay Sculpture in Redecision Therapy

Use of potter's clay to develop script of family injunctions, decisions and redecision possibilities. Analysis deals with the structure of the family system as it has been encoded in individual patterns of relationship. The method is described, then illustrated in a case analysis.

Anaerobic digestion of piggery waste using a stationary fixed film reactor

A fixed film digester with a 35 litre support void volume, treating piggery waste at 35°C, was capable of handling high organic loading rates and short hydraulic retention times without process failure. The digester had a film support made of fired potter's clay and a surface-to-volume ratio of 157 m 2m −3. It could be loaded to 18·7 kg Volatile Solids (VS) m −3 day −1 without substantial increases in volatile acid levels or a reduction in the quality of the digester gas. Maximum methane gas production was 3·8 m 3 (STP) m −3 day −1 and the conversion of Volatile Solids into methane decreased with decreasing hydraulic retention time.

A theory of concentric, kink, and sinusoidal folding and of monoclinal flexuring of compressible, elastic multilayers: I. Introduction

Most folds in stratified rock are similar in form to ideal kink, concentric or chevron folds, in which there are discontinuities in slope or curvature of bedding planes. In this respect most folds appear to be closely related to faults, traces of which can be considered to be lines across which there are discontinuities of displacement of layers. Further, the close association of reverse faults and folds or monoclinal flexures seems to indicate that theories of faulting and folding should be closely related. The theory of characteristics is a mathematical tool with which we can obtain insights into processes involving discontinuities. Theoretical characteristic lines are directions across which certain variables might be discontinuous and they are directions along which discontinuities propagate. The theory has been widely applied in plasticity theory and in fluid mechanics and theoretical studies of faulting have suggested that faults are analogous to the lines of discontinuity predicted by plasticity theory. Elasticity and viscosity theories, on which theories of folding have been founded, exclude the existence of characteristic lines in the materials unless the equilibrium equations, rheological properties or strains are nonlinear. However, all folding theories are nonlinear to some extent and the theories can be modified so that they predict lines of discontinuity for some conditions of loading and deformation. Theories of folding will be developed in subsequent papers of this series in order to predict conditions under which characteristic lines can exist in multilayered materials and in order to determine the conditions that must be satisfied across and along the characteristic lines. The theory should help us to recognize lines of apparent discontinuity in natural and experimental folds and study of these lines should provide further understanding of mechanisms of folding. Experimental studies of folding of a wide variety of materials, including alternating layers of rubber and gelatin, modeling clay and grease or graphite, and potter's clay and rubber or cardboard, suggest that the patterns of folding in these materials begin with sinusoidal forms, transform into concentric or kink forms and then into chevron forms as the multilayers are shortened axially. A suitable theory of folding of multilayers should account for these observations.

アドベとドゥッブ -“煉瓦の文化”の系譜について-

The Spanish word adobe, “dried brick”, is a derivative of the Arabic at-tub (tub with the assimilated article at<al). Working on the etymology of this word, I made a preliminary supposition that this word might be a derivative of the Accadian word tuppu, borrowed from the Sumerian dub, “a clay tablet”, because there are many such Arabic words of Accadian and Sumerian origin, introduced into Arabic mainly through some Aramaic language. For example, Arabic fahhar, “pottery, potter's clay, potter”, is from the Accadian pahharu, Sumerian bahar, and so on. But I could not find any parallel to this word in Syrian or other Aramaic languages, and on the other hand, I found a short note by an Egyptologist, Ludlow Bell, that this word descends from the ancient Egyptian djobe (“It may be a Coptic form, but I could not identify it except in the form of tobefound in the smaller dictionary of Ermann and Grapow”). Afterwards I ascertained this etymology by some documents, having found some older forms of this word in the hieroglyphic Egyptian.As for the Sumerian word for “dried brick”, sig4, Prof. Mamoru Yoshikawa suggested to me that this ideogram (Labat/Deimel 567) has a reading value of šeb, and thas this value seems to have a non-Sumerian character.Subsequently I made a new supposition that the ancient Egyptian djobe/db. t could be derived from this šeb through the Sumerian, or directly from this supposed non-Sumerian word, though I have no positive evidence for it at present.I added to these philological argumets some archeological references on the common characteristic of dried brick in early Mesopotamia and remote Ancient Egypt of the First Dynastic Period, demonstrating Mesopotamian influences on Nilotic Civilization.

Comment on Weaver's “Technological Analysis of Lower Mississippi Ceramic Materials”

AbstractWeaver draws conclusions that need to be supported by more experimentation before they can be taken seriously by archaeologists. Thin-section analysis of ceramics from the St. Louis area has yielded certain facts that are briefly presented in order to show that grog-tempering is common in the Mississippi valley. Crushed-sherd tempering is a cultural reality and does not represent inclusions in potter's clay as Weaver suggests.

6. The Ethnographic Description

Name: kat, potter's clay. There are a number of Maya words meaning clay, but all sources agree that kat is the specific term for the kind of clay used for pottery making. Both the Motel and Vienna dictionaries define kat as the day used by the olleros or pot makers. E. H. Thompson, writing about 1900 (and probably overstating the situation) claims that all potter's clay was further subdivided into 2 classes: xahkat (zac-kat, white/clay) and xkatkan (kart Icot, yellow/clay). Gaumer gives kan kan kat (yellow/clay) for the sample he collected in 1895 at Izamal. My Mama informants, like those from the other villages, always refer to their clay as kat. However, they do differentiate between the zahkat which they ordinarily use and the equally good but much less used kankat. I did not find this distinction at any other village.

Konservering af en oldtidsmand

Konservering af en oldtidsmand