Perlite is a naturally occurring siliceous rock of volcanic origin. This rock when crushed and heated under proper conditions expands to 20 times or more of its original volume. A special milling and classification process gives the correct particle size distributions needed for optimum performance as a filter aid. Perlite FILTER AID improve filtering efficiency by increasing the permeability of the filter cake and is either added to the suspension to be filtered or built on the filter media as a layer through which the liquid must pass. The physical character of expanded perlite bubbles lends itself to a variety of special purposes â?? including use as a filter aid separating small solid particles from liquids. Lightweight expanded perlite bubble structures are milled and classified using clearly defined processes to produce perlite FILTER AID with specific flow characteristics. The various grades utilize the jagged interlocking structures (see image right) to create billions of microscopic channels between the filter aid particles to produce optimum flow rates and clarification abilities for a wide variety of applications. Perlite FILTER AID are both sterile and inert and are used for filtering liquids in the beverage, food and pharmaceutical industries. No tastes, colors or odors are imparted, and, subject to meeting the standards listed in the Food Chemicals Codex (published by the United States' National Academy of Sciences), are deemed safe for their intended use. Note: The Food Chemicals Codex is regarded as a source of information on the quality and purity of food grade substances, and is regarded as authoritative by many government agencies throughout the world.
