Comparison of Filtration Capacity of two Non-Metalic Raw Materials for Fine Water Suspended Particles

Abstract

The basic parameters of two natural non-metallic raw materials from R.N. Macedonia have been defined: white opalized tuff from the locality of Strmosh and, diatomaceous earth from the locality of Slavishko Pole as potential materials for water filtration. Two different sets of water filtrations were carried out for each material with a previously prepared bentonite clay water suspension with a grain size of below 32 μm. A continuous filtration was performed in a column with a well-defined flow, and discontinuous flow under static conditions, i.e. diffusion active system. The percentage of retained clay grains was estimated, namely, by means of continuous filtration with white opalized tuff the percentage of retained clay particles was 12.88%, and 35.00% when diatomaceous earth was used as a filtration material. The filtration capacity under dynamic conditions for diatomaceous earth was 0.028 g/g material, and 0.011 g/g material for white opalized tuff.