Patent ID: 7943031
Filing Date: 2011-05-17
Classification: B01D,C02F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for reducing the liquid content of a material comprising a mixture of solid particles and liquid, the apparatus comprising: containment means to contain the material, and means to apply pressure to the contained material therein; the containment means being partly defined by at least one first sheet member comprising a first filtration membrane permeable to the liquid but impermeable to at least some of the solid particles contained within the material, the containment means being further partly defined by at least one second sheet member comprising a second filtration membrane permeable to the liquid but impermeable to at least some of the solid particles contained within the material, wherein, in use, the first and second electrodes are spaced from each other and in contact with the material to allow application of a potential difference across the material; wherein said at least one conductive element of the first and/or second filtration membrane comprises a plurality of conductive weft elements; and wherein the first and/or second filtration membrane further comprises at least one conductive warp element, in electrical contact with the conductive weft elements of the respective first/second filtration membrane, but woven in such manner as to be partly exposed on the surface of the respective first/second filtration membrane.