Abstract: An electrofiltering process for dewatering or separating particles from a liquid or a colloidal suspension, which comprises the use of an electrofilter with separated, submerged electrodes, consisting of a cathode assembly and an anode assembly, wherein the filtrate is recirculated from the cathode assembly of the electrofilter into the anode assembly where it is utilized as anolyte. An initial electrolytic solution containing a soluble compound of an alkali or alkaline earth metal, such as NaOH or NaHCO.sub.3, is added to the anode assembly as anolyte. A direct current is applied to the electrofilter, so that negatively charged particles in the suspension will migrate towards the anode assembly and form a caked deposit or slurry layer on the outside of the assembly. Simultaneouslly, the electrode reactions at the cathode will split water into hydrogen gas and hydroxide. This hydroxide is diluted with filtrate passing into the cathode assembly.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 3, 1985
Date of Patent:
October 28, 1986
Assignee:
Dorr-Oliver
Inventors:
Jonathan K. Hoadley, Mark P. Freeman, deceased
Abstract: A strong, relatively inert filter cloth is impregnated with an ion exchange resin to provide, for an electrofiltration process, a reinforced solid polymeric electrolyte having ion transport properties and at the same time constituting a positive barrier to mass transport.