Perlit starch industry
Perlit
Perlite is light and inert material. Perlitic products are made from amorphous volcanogenic aluminosilicate rock, having very specific properties. Mineral structure contains water, which is expanding under heat, transforming to steam and forms foaming structure.
Perlitic ore is used in building industry as filling material. Unusual combination of foaming structure and inertness permits to use expanded unpowdered perlite for cryogenic insulation, hydroponics, in light construction mix and texture coatings.
Due to combination of inert composition and uneven structure («crushed glass»), expanded powdered perlite is used in liquids filtration, very saturated with suspended particles, ensuring high efficiency of the process. Perlite filter aids have better potential to trap significant amount of suspended particles without filter blocking.
In starch industry, filter aids are used for removing of solid suspended particles (proteins, fats) after conversion of the starch to syrup and for removing of active carbon used for syrups decolorization and other inorganic largest size impurities.
Perlite has bigger pore volume and less density versus diatomaceous earth and it means that the same material amount forms larger filter layer (cake).
Europerl 900 HD – the main perlitic product for filtration of syrups offered by Imerys company.
The choice of the most appropriate product – perlite or diatomaceous earth – requires certain level of experience and knowledge of syrups in combination with short trials. The best decision will be a product, which allows maximum flow rate in achieving required clarity.
Perlite by Imerys company is presented by wide range of products which were made at deposits of Spain, Italy, Turkey and France.