Improved Material for Purifying, Filtering, Clarifying, and Sterilizing Liquids.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application (in the United Kingdom), 6th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 6th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1898
Improved Material for Purifying, Filtering, Clarifying, and
Sterilizing Liquids.
I, AUGUSTE EMILE HENRY LOZÈ, of 281, West Derby Road, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Aerated Water Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the preparation of a new material for use in purifying or
clarifying and sterilizing liquids, either by agitating the material with the liquid
and allowing it to settle or by filtering the liquid through the material.
The object of the invention is to produce a material which shall be very porous
and allow of rapid passage of liquid therethrough whilst at the same time preventing
the passage of microbes and other impurities, which shall be very light so as to
allow of thorough diffusion in a liquid before settling down and which shall be very.
insoluble so as to prevent the imparting of a bad taste to the liquid being purified
or filtered and to prevent loss of material.
For these purposes I make use of infusorial earth called also kieselguhr or fossil
meal treated as hereafter described. This earth consists principally of silica
and a small proportion of organic matter. I first remove from the said earth by
sifting all objectionable particles removable by this means and then submit such
earth to a temperature of about 800° C. to 1000° C. for a period of one to two hours.
This calcination or heating renders the earth very porous, almost completely
insoluble, and very light, and also, if the calcination is effected in a closed vessel, a
certain quantity of carbonized matter is formed from the destruction of the organic
substances. The earth after calcination is allowed to cool and is then reduced to a
fine powder by any convenient means and either dry or mixed with water.
powder may be used in this condition for the filtration of water, beer, &c., but in
some cases, as for example the filtration of wine, in order to remove entirely all
traces of impurities which might impart a bad taste to the wine or other liquid it is
advisable to completely purify the powder which may be done by washing it with a
solution of acid either mineral or organic and afterwards with water.
The
In carrying my invention into practice for purifying or clarifying liquids by
settlement or precipitation I mix a quantity of the powdered and calcined infusiorial
D

page_text: earth with a small quantity of the liquid to be clarified. The mixture is then added
to the liquid to be clarified the whole is then agitated and allowed to settle as usual.
When it is desired, to use the powder as a filter I mix the powder with a portion
of the liquid as before described from which it is deposited as the filtration pro-
gresses on to a permeable support formed of paper, cellulose or other porous material
which will prevent the passage of the powder whilst allowing the passage of liquid.
The powder owing to its lightness is deposited on the support in a very regular and
adherent layer through which liquid to be filtered is then continuously passed,
becoming in its passage through the powder completely sterilized and purified. If
it is desired to use wire gauze or the like for the permeable support which would
allow the powder to pass through, it is necessary to first apply to the wire gauze a
layer of asbestos, papier machè, textile fabric or other porous material which will not
pass through the wire gauze and which will prevent the powder passing through, or
such asbestos or other material may be mixed with the powder. In all cases it is
necessary for complete sterilization to collect separately the portion of liquid
which passes whilst the layer of powder is being deposited and refilter such portion
and it is advisable not to interrupt or stop the current of filtration when once
started as such stoppage allows relaxation of the layer of powder and consequently
the passage of microbes.
The powder when it has become foul from use can be regenerated by mixing it
with acidulated water allowing it to settle, removing it from the water, and drying it
in air, and then recalcining it, thus restoring all its purifying and sterilizing
properties.
It has been found in practice when asbestos, papier machè or other porous
material has been used to prevent the powder passing through a support of large
mesh, or to augment the adherence of such powder, or to increase the absorbing
power, that the sterilizing power of the filter is due entirely to the presence of the
calcined powder. For example papier machè alone will not sterilize a liquid which
is filtered through it but papier machè mixed with a sufficient proportion of the
powder to cover such papier machè effects complete sterilization.
The powder prepared as above described may be used in combination with any
other additional or auxilliary filtering material and in any convenient way, so long as
the said powder is retained within or upon such other material and thereby pre-
vented from passing away with the filtered liquid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. A material or powder for filtering, clarifying and sterilizing liquids, pre-
pared by calcining infusorial earth, substantially as set forth.
Second. A material or powder for filtering, clarifying and sterilizing liquids pre-
pared by calcining infusorial earth and afterwards washing with acid and with water
substantially as set forth.
Third. As a filtering and sterilizing medium the combination of calcined infusorial
earth with asbestos, papier machè, or other porous material substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Dated this wah 1…...
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