Preparation and properties of hydroxyapatite filters for microbial filtration

Preparation and properties of two kinds of hydroxyapatite filters, filter cloths and porous ceramics, were investigated. The filter cloth was prepared by depositing nanosize ceramic hydroxyapatite on a cotton fabric. The porous ceramic with pore size of several micrometers or less was fabricated by using water soluble starch as a pore former, and its permeability was controlled by adding insoluble starch. Bacterial filtration tests showed that the six-layer filter cloth can clear bacteria effectively, and the porous ceramic can remove 100% of the bacteria. Both the filter cloth and the porous ceramic can be used to clear or separate microbes.