DEPTH FILTRATION ASSISTED BY ELECTRICAL FIELDS

Depth filtration of liquids is a well established process. Its main dr awback is that it does not effectively remove particles smaller than a bout 2-3 mum diameter, because they do not normally approach near enou gh to the surface of the medium to become attached to it. A static ele ctrical field overcomes this by promoting electrophoretic movement of the particles. The work has studied particle removal from low conducti vity water through fibrous depth filters and has covered a variety of fibres with different physical properties. The results yield a fibre e fficiency series, which suggest the relationship between filtration ef ficiency and the electrical properties of the fibre.