Composition for filtering and removing particles and/or constituents from a fluid

Abstract

Filter-aid materials are disclosed herein, 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 filterable composite adsorbent comprising at least one adsorbent component formed in-situ on at least one filtration component. 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 filterable composite adsorbent comprising at least one adsorbent component formed in-situ on at least one filtration component, and wherein the filter-aid material further comprises an at least one additional filtration component mixed with the at least one filterable composite adsorbent.

1 - 89 . (canceled) 
     
     
         90 . A method for making a filter-aid material comprising:
 mixing at least one filtration component comprising diatomite with an aqueous sodium silicate solution; and   adding an acid until the pH of the aqueous sodium silicate is sufficiently low to precipitate silica as an adsorbent component onto the at least one filtration component to form at least one filterable composite adsorbent,   wherein the at least one adsorbent component comprises less than about 40% by weight of the filterable composite adsorbent and the at least one adsorbent component has an average particle size of less than about 1 micron.   
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the adsorbent component has an average particle size ranging from about 5 nanometers to about 1 micron. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the adsorbent component has an average particle size ranging from about 2 nanometers to about 100 nanometers. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the adsorbent component has an average particle size of greater than about 5% by weight. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the adsorbent component has an average particle size of greater than about 15% by weight. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the adsorbent component is present in the filterable composite adsorbent in an amount ranging from about 5% to about 15% by weight. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 90 , further comprising mixing the at least one filterable composite adsorbent with at least one additional filtration component. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein the at least one additional filtration component is diatomite. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 96 , wherein the at least one additional filtration component is perlite. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the sodium silicate solution has a SiO 2 /Na 2 O ratio of about 3.2. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 90 , further comprising stirring the mixture after addition of acid, at least periodically, for a period of about 25 to about 60 minutes until gelling occurs. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 100 , further including addition of water to the gelled slurry, followed by filtration to form a cake. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , further comprising washing the cake with water. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 102 , further comprising drying the cake at a temperature ranging from about 110 degrees C. to about 200 degrees C. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the sodium silicate is a diatomite-based sodium silicate. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein said acid is selected from sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid. 
     
     
         106 . A method for making a filter-aid material comprising:
 mixing at least one filtration component comprising diatomite with an aqueous sodium silicate solution;   adding an acid until the pH of the aqueous sodium silicate is sufficiently low to precipitate silica gel as an adsorbent component onto the at least one filtration component to form at least one filterable composite adsorbent;   stirring the mixture after addition of acid, at least periodically, for a period of about 25 to about 60 minutes until gelling occurs;   filtering the gelled slurry to form a cake; and   drying the cake.   
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 106 , wherein the adsorbent component comprises less than about 40% by weight of the filterable composite adsorbent and the at least one adsorbent component has an average particle size of less than about 1 micron. 
     
     
         108 . A method for making a filter-aid material comprising:
 mixing at least one filtration component comprising diatomite with an aqueous sodium silicate solution derived from diatomite;   adding an acid until the pH of the aqueous sodium silicate is sufficiently low to precipitate silica gel as an adsorbent component onto the at least one filtration component to form at least one filterable composite adsorbent;   stirring the mixture after addition of acid, at least periodically, for a period of about 25 to about 60 minutes until gelling occurs;   filtering the gelled slurry to form a cake; and   drying the cake;   wherein the adsorbent component is present in the filterable composite adsorbent in an amount ranging from about 5% to about 15% by weight.   
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 108 , wherein the adsorbent component has an average particle size of less than about 1 micron.