This blog has long touted the importance of testing, testing and more testing. It’s probably fortunate I don’t teach filtration and separation technologies — my students would be complaining about all of my quizzes and exams as I applied my mantra literally!
Still, it remains amazing to me that with the critical importance of good information about filter aids, filter media and filtration technologies, that there isn’t one comprehensive approach to filter aid usage, filter media and wrapping all of this into filtration technology selection.
Yes, you can find abundant information about each in the literature and the filtration marketplace. Industry experts and suppliers cover these exhaustively, but their writing is focused inwardly.
For instance, you might learn about specific applications such as:
• applied mineral filter aids in beer filtration
• separating niter when boiling sap for maple syrup
• filtering wine with diatomaceous earth filter aid (DE)
And reading these, you would not be blamed for longing for a drink or a sweet treat. Here’s one more on filtering liquid chocolate – just to be sure your mouth is watering.
Yet, no matter the manufacturing process in question, its left to the engineers to gather this information, make their own comparisons and then develop a process solution. With so many sources helping the process engineer “find the right machine,” or offering “a high performance solution you can rely on” it’s challenging to make the best choice.
BHS aims to change this in filtration and separation technology. We’re right now undertaking a groundbreaking study to develop a comprehensive approach to the marketplace. Our research and testing is now underway with a completion date of August 2017, but we’d welcome your contributions and ideas!