Composite Filter Aid for Chill Haze Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current filter aids face a trade-off between permeability and turbidity removal capabilities, and are ineffective in addressing chill-haze issues in chilled fluids like beer, as they either compromise flow rate or fail to remove haze-causing particles effectively.

Innovation Solution

A chill-proofing composite filter aid comprising a filtration component of diatomaceous earth coated with precipitated silica, achieving a pore volume of 0.15 to 0.35 cm^3/gram and average pore size between 3 to 15 nanometers, which enhances adsorption of chill-haze active proteins without affecting desirable proteins.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If porous filtration components are used to remove particles by physical entrapment, then particle removal capability is improved, but adsorption capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticle removal capabilityVSAvoidadsorption capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two different filtration mechanisms into a single composite filter aid: physical entrapment through porous structure and adsorption through high surface area material. The composite filter aid integrates both functions to simultaneously achieve particle removal by filtration and adsorption of dissolved substances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite material consisting of porous filtration components combined with adsorbent materials having high surface area. This composite structure allows the filter aid to perform both physical entrapment of particles and adsorption of dissolved substances that cause chill haze.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If filter aid material is added to increase adsorption capacity, then adsorption capability is improved, but permeability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadsorption capabilityVSAvoidpermeability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The composite filter aid creates different functional zones within the filter structure: regions with higher adsorbent content for adsorption and regions with more open porous structure for maintaining permeability. This local differentiation allows both functions to operate effectively without compromising overall flow rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 effectively reduces chill haze by up to 40% in beers, maintaining fluid flow rates while improving turbidity removal, outperforming traditional mixtures and thermally-sintered or chemically-bonded composites.

Implementation Method 1

an adsorption component including precipitated silica at least partially coating the filtration component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP3328515B1Chill-proofing composite filter aid and related methods
Publication Date: 2020.04.29 IMERYS FILTRATION MINERALS INC
  • EP3328515B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3328515B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3328515B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A chill-proofing composite filter aid may include a filtration component and an adsorption component including precipitated silica at least partially coating the filtration component. The composite filter aid may have a pore volume of at least about 0.15 cm3/gram at an average pore size between 3 nanometers and 15 nanometers. A method for removing particles from a fluid may include providing a chill-proofing composite filter aid, pre-coating a filter element with the composite filter aid, and passing a fluid containing particles to be adsorbed through the coated filter element, A method of making a chill-proofing composite filter aid may include providing a filtration component, and at least partially coating the filtration component with an adsorption component including precipitated silica. The composite filter aid may have a pore volume of at least about 0.15 cm3/gram at an average pore size between 3 nanometers and 15 nanometers.