US 12,134,082 B2
Ultra-low surface charge biogenic silica filtration media
George Asante-Nyamekye, Reno, NV (US)
Assigned to EP Minerals LLC, Reno, NV (US)
Filed by EP MINERALS, LLC, Reno, NV (US)
Filed on Jan. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/142,416.
Prior Publication US 2022/0212160 A1, Jul. 7, 2022
Int. Cl. B01J 20/14 (2006.01); B01J 20/04 (2006.01); B01J 20/28 (2006.01); B01J 20/30 (2006.01); C02F 1/28 (2023.01)
CPC B01J 20/14 (2013.01) [B01J 20/041 (2013.01); B01J 20/28011 (2013.01); B01J 20/3078 (2013.01); C02F 1/281 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A diatomite filtration product comprising flux- calcined diatomaceous earth, wherein the diatomite filtration product has:
(1) an intricate and porous structure of diatomite,
(2) a zeta potential in a range of from about −1.0 mV to about −6.0 mV within a pH range of from about 3.0 to about 8.0, and
(3) a centrifuged wet density in a range of from about 0.176 g/ml to about 0.256 g/ml,
wherein the filtration product is generated by preparing a blend by blending dried diatomaceous earth comprising a centrifuged wet density of not greater than 0.256 g/ml with about 6 weight percent to about 12 weight percent of a fluxing agent based on the total weight of the blend and thermally sintering the blend to form the flux-calcined diatomaceous earth,
wherein the blend comprises a stoichiometric ratio of fluxing agent to silicon dioxide of at least 5.0%, wherein water is introduced into the blend in an amount of 7-15 weight percent based on the total weight of the blend to form a dispersion of diatomaceous earth, water, and fluxing agent.