③  A New Separation Technology with Ice Filter

      ( Fusible Filter )

 

  

　     This technology employs centrifugal filtration using fusible materials, such as ice crystals, to separate emulsions. Its application removes stable surfactants (e.g., proteins) from oil droplets in emulsions (e.g., fish livers) and coalesces the oil droplets. Coalesced oils in the filter are separated by melting the filter.(pat.)

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Separation principle of this technology:

     The fusible filters are compressed against the rotating basket wall surface by centrifugal force. As a result, the emulsions, after reaching the basket wall surface at high speed from the filter layer surface of the fusible filter, are forced to move along the basket wall surface through compressed narrow gaps between the basket wall surface and the fusible filter, and also between the filter crystals adjacent to the basket wall surface. In addition, the viscosity differences between the oils and the aqueous solutions in the emulsions increase with decreasing temperature, thus improving separation efficiency.

 

　 This technology has the potential to disrupt the membranes of microalgae and separate oil and solution from the microalgae.

 

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