Composite Filter Media for Sugar Purification Decolorization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sugar purification processes face challenges in efficiently removing contaminants and color bodies from sugar solutions while maintaining hydraulic performance, leading to increased pressure drops and reduced filtration efficiency due to smaller particle sizes and deeper filter beds.

Innovation Solution

A filter media comprising a mixture of activated carbon, ion exchange resin, and specific fibers with tailored properties is introduced, allowing for increased sorbent capacity and flow rates without significant pressure drops, potentially eliminating the need for chemical clarification steps and enhancing decolorization capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If smaller particle sizes are used to increase surface area and adsorption capacity, then the adsorption capacity increases, but the pressure differential increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadsorption capacityVSAvoidpressure differential

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses composite filter media combining activated carbon particles with cellulose fibers or other inert support materials. This composite structure provides both high adsorption capacity from the carbon and adequate hydraulic performance from the fiber network, resolving the contradiction between capacity and pressure drop

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The filter media utilizes porous activated carbon materials with controlled particle size distributions and pore structures. The porous nature provides high surface area for adsorption while the specific pore size distribution allows fluid flow with reduced pressure differential

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Manufacturing precision

If deeper filter beds are used to accomplish needed color removal, then the color removal efficiency increases, but the pressure differential increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor removal efficiencyVSAvoidpressure differential

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes key parameters of the filter media including particle size distribution, pore size distribution, and compositional ratios to achieve high color removal efficiency in shallower beds. By optimizing these parameters, the required bed depth is reduced while maintaining or improving color removal performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The composite structure of activated carbon combined with inert fibers provides both decolorization capability and hydraulic conductivity. This allows achieving needed color removal in shallower beds with lower pressure differentials compared to traditional single-material filters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If larger surface area adsorbents are used to increase reaction rate and capacity, then the adsorption performance improves, but the system pressure increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereaction rateVSAvoidsystem pressure

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The invention employs porous activated carbon with optimized pore size distribution that provides large internal surface area for rapid adsorption reactions. The porous structure enables high reaction rates while the controlled pore geometry maintains acceptable pressure characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The filter media is designed with heterogeneous particle size distributions where finer particles provide high surface area for adsorption in specific zones, while coarser particles or fiber components provide hydraulic pathways. This local differentiation of properties allows high reaction rates without excessive system pressure

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 solution achieves higher color removal efficiency with reduced pressure drops and extended filtration life, enabling more effective contaminant removal and reducing operational costs by minimizing the need for additional filtration aids and clarification processes.

Implementation Method 1

Application of carbon based adsorbents... effectively reduce these color bodies prior to crystallization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 2

The ion exchange resin particles include anion exchange resin particles, cation exchange resin particles, or a mixture thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon exchange: Ion Exchange

Data Source

PatentUS11364454B2Filter media for the removal of particles, ions, and biological materials, and decolorization in a sugar purification process, and use thereof

Publication Date: 2022.06.21 GRAVER TECH LLC

AI summary

A filter media for implementation in a sugar purification process that allows for a significant increase in sorbent material while maintaining, and enhancing the decolorization and. hydraulic properties. The filter media incorporates sorbent material, fiber having specific properties that allows for small particle sorbent material without jeopardizing the hydraulic properties of the media, and an electrolyte. The sorbent material is an inorganic, an adsorption, or ion exchange media, or a metal-organic framework. The implementation of this filter media in a sugar purification process eliminates the need for a clarification step during refining while providing for enhanced decolorization and hydraulic properties for fluid flow.