Composite Filter-Aid Material for Turbidity Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Filtration technologies face challenges in achieving high permeability and effective turbidity removal due to the trade-off between permeability and adsorption capacity, with existing composite filters being ineffective in maintaining permeability and requiring additional filtration components, leading to increased costs and reduced filtration efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A composite filter-aid material comprising precipitated silica and diatomite, where the adsorbent component is integrated in-situ onto the filtration component, offering a pore size ratio of at least 200 and a Total Pore Area of 10 to 100 m²/g, enhancing both filtration and adsorption capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If porous filtration components (diatomite, perlite, cellulose) are used for particle separation, then filtration efficiency and permeability are improved, but adsorption capacity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration efficiencyVSAvoidadsorption capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines filtration components (diatomite, perlite, or cellulose) with adsorbent components (activated carbon, silica gel, or alumina) into a single composite filter-aid material. This merging allows the material to simultaneously provide both filtration efficiency through the porous structure and adsorption capacity through the integrated adsorbent, resolving the trade-off between these two functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates composite filter-aid materials by integrating adsorbent components onto filtration component substrates. The composite structure combines the high permeability and filtration capabilities of porous materials like diatomite with the adsorption properties of materials like activated carbon or silica gel, achieving both functions in a single material system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If composite filter-aid materials are used to improve adsorption capacity, then turbidity removal is enhanced, but permeability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveturbidity removalVSAvoidpermeability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies adsorbent components locally onto the surface and within the pore structure of filtration components rather than uniformly throughout. This localized application ensures that adsorption functionality is concentrated where it is most needed for turbidity removal, while the bulk structure maintains its high permeability characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The invention utilizes the porous structure of filtration components (diatomite, perlite, cellulose) as the foundation for the composite material. These materials inherently provide high permeability through their intricate pore networks, and the adsorbent components are integrated within this porous framework to add adsorption capacity without blocking the flow paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple filtration components are combined to achieve both filtration and adsorption, then functional capabilities are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration and adsorption capabilitiesVSAvoidcomposite structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple functional components (filtration and adsorption materials) into a single integrated filter-aid composition that is applied as one layer on the filter element. This merging reduces device complexity by eliminating the need for separate filtration and adsorption stages or multiple layered applications, while maintaining both functional capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 material improves filtration efficiency by maintaining high permeability while effectively reducing turbidity, outperforming simple mixtures and chemically bonded composites by retaining adsorptive and filtration properties, and reducing the need for additional filtration components.

Implementation Method 1

at least one adsorbent component that has been precipitated in-situ on the surface of the at least one filtration component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

The filter aid typically has an open porous structure which maintains an open structure in the filter cake, thus ensuring continued permeability of the filter cake

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Data Source

PatentEP2605852B1Composite filter aids having novel pore size characteristics
Publication Date: 2021.11.03 IMERYS FILTRATION MINERALS INC
  • EP2605852B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2605852B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2605852B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Filter-aid materials are disclosed herein, as well as processes, systems, and methods using such filter-aid materials for filtering and removing particles and/or constituents from a fluid. Further disclosed herein are filter-aid materials and processes, systems, and methods using such filter-aid materials for filtering and removing particles and/or constituents from a fluid, wherein the filter-aid material comprises at least one composite filter-aid having novel pore size distribution and comprising at least one adsorbent component formed in-situ on at least one filtration component.