Co-agglomerated Composite Filter Aid for Beverage Filtration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing diatomaceous earth and natural glass products used in filtration applications often have high crystalline silica content, high impurity content, and low permeability, making them less desirable for effective filtration due to poor performance in filtering applications.
Innovation Solution
A composite filter aid is developed by co-agglomerating diatomaceous earth or natural glass with a second mineral having a high aspect ratio and a binder, resulting in improved permeability and reduced impurity content, with specific properties such as permeability ranging from 1.97 x 10^-13 to 1.97 x 10^-11 m^2 (0.2 to 20 darcys) and a beer soluble iron content of less than 5 ppm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If diatomaceous earth or natural glass is used as filter aid, then filtration capability is provided, but permeability is low and impurity content is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining diatomaceous earth or natural glass with a second mineral having high aspect ratio (such as mica, talc, clay, kaolin, smectite, wollastonite, or calcium carbonate) and a binder. This composite structure allows the filter aid to maintain filtration capability while the high aspect ratio mineral improves permeability and reduces impurity content, directly resolving the technical contradiction between filtration capability and permeability/impurity levels
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by incorporating minerals with specific aspect ratios (greater than 2:1) into the filter aid composition. The high aspect ratio of the second mineral creates localized pathways and structures within the filter cake that enhance permeability in specific regions, allowing different parts of the filter aid to serve different functions: diatomaceous earth/natural glass for filtration and high aspect ratio minerals for maintaining permeability and reducing impurities
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The composite filter aid exhibits enhanced permeability and reduced turbidity, extending filtration cycle and maintaining fluid clarity, while minimizing metal contamination in filtered beverages.
Implementation Method 1
contacting a solution of binder with a blend of diatomaceous earth or natural glass and a second mineral having a high aspect ratio, so that the binder binds the diatomaceous earth or natural glass to the second mineral in a co-agglomeration
Implementation Method 2
The resulting filter aid exhibits increased permeability of about 1.97 x 10^-13
Data Source
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AI summary
A composite filter aid may include a first mineral selected from diatomaceous earth and natural glass. The filter aid may also include a second mineral having and aspect ratio greater than about 2:1, and a binder. The filter aid may have a permeability ranging from 0.2 to 20 darcys. A method for making a composite filter aid may include blending a first mineral, a second mineral, and a binder, wherein the first mineral comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth and natural glass, and the second mineral has an aspect ratio greater than about 2:1. The method may further include agglomerating the first mineral and second mineral in the presence of the binder to form the composite filter aid. A method for filtering a beverage may include using the composite filter aid.