FILTRE COMPOSITE MULTICOUCHE À BASE D’ARGILES LOCALES ET DE CHARBON ACTIF POUR LA RÉTENTION DES PARTICULES FINES (PM2.5 ET PM10) À KINSHASA

This study proposes a sustainable and low-cost technological solution to reduce fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in the atmospheric air of Kinshasa. A multi-layer filtration device was designed and tested in the laboratory, combining a cotton pre-filter, a column of local natural clay, a column of activated carbon derived from coconut shells, and a cotton post-filter. The results show a filtration efficiency of up to 99.99%, thanks to the complementary mechanisms of mechanical filtration, interception, and physicochemical adsorption. Among the six clays studied, the bright red clay KM9-R exhibits the best performance, with a near-zero residual concentration of fine particles, even under conditions of high pollution. Thus, this multilayer configuration highlights the potential of local, abundant, and inexpensive materials for developing alternatives to industrial filters. It represents a promising approach for designing fine particulate filtration systems adapted to sub-Saharan urban contexts.