Abstract: This disclosure relates to ultra-high performance diatomite products possessing very high silica specific volume, a characteristic which provides for high filtration performance, in terms of low unit consumption and long filtration cycle times. These novel products of this disclosure also show very low extractable metals for both the non-acid washed and the high purity (acid washed) grades. These characteristics are of particular value in the separation of solids from high purity liquids in electronic chemical, specialty beverage and life science applications. In addition to outstanding physical and chemical characteristics, these products also contain no detectable levels of cristobalite and have a wide range of permeabilities, and are produced from mineralogically impure ores containing high levels of alumina and iron oxide.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns flux-calcined products manufactured from filtration waste streams, and methods for manufacturing the same. In particular, it concerns functional additives produced from spent cake comprising diatomite filtration media which are suitable for use in paints, plastic films and elastomers for control of optical and surface properties, and processes which are suitable for manufacture of such products. It further concerns the recovery of energy from spent cakes during the regeneration process.

Abstract: This invention concerns ultra-high purity, ultra-high performance biogenic silica filtration products comprising diatomaceous earth. In particular, it relates to products comprising diatomaceous earth which is derived from ores that have been specifically selected for their naturally low centrifuged wet density and which have been intensively beneficiated to reduce extractable impurities to near or below detection limits. The low centrifuged wet density of the selected natural ore is either maintained or further reduced through the beneficiation process, which provides for filtration product/media with high particulate holding capacities able to provide for extended filtration cycle times.

Abstract: A diatomite filtration product includes 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.

Abstract: This disclosure includes regenerated inorganic fermented beverage stabilization and/or clarification media and a process for such regeneration. Inorganic stabilization and clarification media (for processing beer or the like) may include expanded perlite or other expanded natural glasses, diatomaceous earth, silica gel or other precipitated silicas and compositions that incorporate these materials. Such media may be regenerated individually, together in a mixture or together as part of a composite product.

Abstract: This invention concerns highly effective functional additive products that comprise diatomite. More particularly, it concerns such functional additive products possessing particle size distributions which make them more effective as functional additives in filled systems. Higher effectiveness is demonstrated through lower Standard Sheen and/or reduced unit consumption relative to diatomite functional additives already in the public domain. Such products may also possess high brightness, low tint and/or an absence of detectable crystalline silica.

Abstract: A diatomite product and method of using such is disclosed. The diatomite product may comprise sodium flux-calcined diatomite, wherein the diatomite product has a crystalline silica content of less than about 1 wt %, and the diatomite product has a permeability between 0.8 darcy and about 30 darcy. In some embodiments, the diatomite product may be in particulate or powdered form. This disclosure also concerns flux-calcined silica products containing low or non-detectable levels of crystalline silica. Some of these products can be further characterized by high permeabilities and a measurable content of opal-C, a hydrated form of silicon dioxide.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a diatomaceous earth functional filler product with detectable or non-detectable crystalline silica includes the steps of: selecting a diatomaceous earth ore; simultaneously milling and flash-drying the diatomaceous earth ore; beneficiating the milled and flash-dried diamtomaceous earth ore; blending the beneficiated diatomaceous earth ore with a fluxing agent; calcining the blended diatomaceous earth ore and fluxing agent to produce an initial diatomaceous earth powder; air-classifying the initial diatomaceous earth powder to produce a first fraction including the diatomaceous earth functional filler product and a second fraction including coarse particles; further milling the coarse particles to produce additional diatomaceous earth powder; and re-circulating the additional diatomaceous earth powder to blend the additional diatomaceous earth powder with the initial diatomaceous earth powder.

Abstract: A method of determining opal-C and cristobalite contents of a product that comprises diatomite is disclosed. The method may comprise performing thermal processing to determine a loss on ignition for a representative first portion of a sample of the product; identifying and quantifying primary and secondary peaks present in a first diffraction pattern that results from bulk powder X-ray Diffraction on a representative second portion of the sample; and using a known standard sample of cristobalite to determine whether the primary and secondary peaks present in the first diffraction pattern indicate the presence of opal-C or cristobalite in the product.

Abstract: This disclosure concerns flux-calcined products manufactured from filtration waste streams, and methods for manufacturing the same. In particular, it concerns functional additives produced from spent cake comprising diatomite filtration media which are suitable for use in paints, plastic films and elastomers for control of optical and surface properties, and processes which are suitable for manufacture of such products. It further concerns the recovery of energy from spent cakes during the regeneration process.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to ultra-high performance diatomite products possessing very high silica specific volume, a characteristic which provides for high filtration performance, in terms of low unit consumption and long filtration cycle times. These novel products of this disclosure also show very low extractable metals for both the non-acid washed and the high purity (acid washed) grades. These characteristics are of particular value in the separation of solids from high purity liquids in electronic chemical, specialty beverage and life science applications.

Abstract: This invention concerns ultra-high purity, ultra-high performance biogenic silica filtration products comprising diatomaceous earth. In particular, it relates to products comprising diatomaceous earth which is derived from ores that have been specifically selected for their naturally low centrifuged wet density and which have been intensively beneficiated to reduce extractable impurities to near or below detection limits. The low centrifuged wet density of the selected natural ore is either maintained or further reduced through the beneficiation process, which provides for filtration product/media with high particulate holding capacities able to provide for extended filtration cycle times.

Abstract: A composition comprising a physical blend of discrete particulates such that the liquid absorbency is greater than the individual components and is greater than the expected absorbency based on the rule of mixtures. A composition comprising diatomaceous earth which may have a clump strength greater than 75% and in which the dry density may be less than 880 kg/m3 (55 lb/ft3). The compositions exhibit synergistic absorbance, light density, high clump strength, low dustiness, and are suitable for industrial and household absorption and solidification, animal litter, and soil amendment.

Abstract: A powdered composite filtration medium includes composite particles that include at least one diatomite particle and at least one expanded perlite particle sintered together. The composite powdered filtration medium may include from about 7 wt % to about 90 wt % diatomite, from about 93 wt % to about 10 wt % expanded perlite. Less than about 1% total crystalline silica may be present in the medium. The medium may have a permeability of at least 0.25 darcy. The diatomite and expanded perlite may be sintered or calcined with or without a fluxing agent.

Abstract: This disclosure includes regenerated inorganic fermented beverage stabilization and/or clarification media and a process for such regeneration. Inorganic stabilization and clarification media (for processing beer or the like) may include expanded perlite or other expanded natural glasses, diatomaceous earth, silica gel or other precipitated silicas and compositions that incorporate these materials. Such media may be regenerated individually, together in a mixture or together as part of a composite product.

Abstract: Disclosed is a non-respirable/substantially non-respirable product and method of manufacturing such product. The product may comprise diatomite having a median particle size distribution between about 10 microns and about 60 microns. The product is substantially non-respirable and may be enclosed inside a package wherein the product and inside the package have a combined aerobic bacterial count between about zero and about 114 (CFU/1.0 g). The product may have a dust number less than about 0.2.

Abstract: A powdered composite filtration medium includes composite particles that include at least one diatomite particle and at least one expanded perlite particle sintered together. The composite powdered filtration medium may include from about 7 wt % to about 90 wt % diatomite, from about 93 wt % to about 10 wt % expanded perlite. Less than about 1% total crystalline silica may be present in the medium. The medium may have a permeability of at least 0.25 darcy. The diatomite and expanded perlite may be sintered or calcined with or without a fluxing agent.

Abstract: A composition comprising a physical blend of discrete particulates such that the liquid absorbency is greater than the individual components and is greater than the expected absorbency based on the rule of mixtures. A composition comprising diatomaceous earth which may have a clump strength greater than 75% and in which the thy density may be less than 880 kg/m3(55 lb/ft3). The compositions exhibit synergistic absorbance, light density, high clump strength, low dustiness, and are suitable for industrial and household absorption and solidification, animal litter, and soil amendment.

Abstract: A diatomaceous earth product with low crystalline silica content after at least one calcination step of between about 927° C. (1700° F.) and about 1149° C. (2100° F.) is disclosed. The product comprises natural diatomaceous earth and at least one binding agent comprising potassium silicate. Further the product comprises no more than about 4.0 wt % of crystalline silica and has a permeability in the range of about 0.3 darcy to greater than about 20 darcy. A process for making such diatomaceous earth product with a low crystalline silica content is disclosed. Moreover, a diatomaceous earth filter aid comprising such a diatomaceous earth product is disclosed.

Abstract: Processes for manufacturing low soluble iron diatomite filter aids and such filter aids are disclosed. Aluminum oxide and/or aluminum hydroxide are used as additives when preparing the flux-calcined diatomite filter aids. As compared to either straight-calcined or soda ash flux-calcined diatomite filter aids of similar permeabilities made from the same ore, the disclosed filter aids have lower soluble iron levels. For instance, disclosed filter aids of about 0.5 to about 2.0 Darcy were made using either an aluminum oxide or aluminum hydroxide additive with soda ash. The disclosed filter aids may have an EBC soluble iron content of less than 80 ppm versus 130 ppm for similar filter aids that were made from the same ore and flux-calcined with just soda ash.