Hydrophobic Composite Filtering Aids for Liquid Food Purification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filtration and flocculation methods for liquid foods face issues such as retention of liquid, filter clogging, and low adsorptivity due to the use of materials like diatomaceous earth and talc, which can be carcinogenic or have high aspect ratios leading to low permeability.
Innovation Solution
A composite filtering and flocculating aid comprising hydrophobic adsorbing agent particles and spacer particles, where the spacer particles are intrinsically hydrophobic or hydrophobised, forming a cardhouse structure that ensures high flow capacity and adsorptivity, using delaminated talc and glass particles with specific size and surface area characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If delaminated talc is used as a filtering aid, then adsorptivity is improved, but filter permeability deteriorates due to high aspect ratio particles forming a dense structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines delaminated talc particles with spherical inert particles (such as glass beads or silica) to create a composite filtering aid. The spherical particles act as spacers that prevent the high aspect ratio talc particles from forming a dense, impermeable structure, thereby maintaining filter permeability while preserving the high adsorptivity of the talc particles.
2Quantity of substance
If diatomaceous earth is used for filtration, then filtering capacity is improved, but liquid retention increases and filter clogging occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite filtering aid combining diatomaceous earth particles with spherical inert particles. The spherical particles serve as spacers that maintain porosity and prevent filter clogging, allowing the diatomaceous earth to effectively trap impurities while maintaining adequate liquid flow rate.
Solution Approach 2:
The spherical inert particles are distributed throughout the filter structure to create localized channels of high permeability, while the diatomaceous earth particles provide localized high adsorptivity. This spatial differentiation allows the filter to simultaneously achieve high dirt holding capacity and maintain liquid flow.
3Quantity of substance
If high aspect ratio particles are used to increase adsorption surface area, then adsorptivity is improved, but filter cake density increases reducing flow capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines high aspect ratio particles (talc or diatomaceous earth) with spherical inert particles of controlled size and density. The spherical particles act as spacers that prevent the high aspect ratio particles from packing too densely, thereby maintaining porosity and flow capacity while allowing the high aspect ratio particles to provide extensive adsorption surface area.
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 aids provide a homogeneous filter cake with high permeability and adsorptivity, effectively removing impurities while minimizing liquid retention and avoiding filter clogging, thus enhancing the efficiency and safety of liquid food filtration processes.
Implementation Method 1
the spacer particles are intrinsically hydrophobic or hydrophobised, forming a cardhouse structure
Implementation Method 2
hydrophobic adsorbing agent particles and spacer particles
Implementation Method 3
passing the liquid to be purified through a permeable filter capable of retaining, via size exclusion, the impurities on the filter surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to new filtering and/or flocculating aids for the of liquid foods comprising an adsorbing agent and a spacer, wherein the spacer particles are intrinsically hydrophobic or hydrophobised, and the adsorbing agent particles are intrinsically hydrophobic or hydrophobised and are associated to the spacer particles forming a composite therewith, as well as to a method for their preparation, a process for removing impurities from liquid foods, the use of the improved filtering and/or flocculating aids, a filter cake and precoat used for the purification of liquid is well as a liquid food comprising said filtering and/or flocculating aids.