Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a light, porous, and naturally-occurring sedimentary rock that is found in the earth near current or former bodies of water. This chemical compound consists mainly of silica combined with small amounts of sodium, magnesium, and iron, a substance that comes from the fossilized remains of diatoms, a hard-shelled type of algae. In different forms, DE has been used in a widely-diverse range of industrial applications from abrasives in toothpastes to integral components in the manufacture of dynamite.

In the industrial sector, DE is most often found as part of Diatomaceous Earth Filters. Due to the fact that the material has such high-porosity and is filled with particles that are both hollow and microscopically-small, it can be used to filter liquids that would normally either clog or pass through ordinary filter paper. As such, the material is used to filter drinking water, keep the water clean in fish tanks, and in the filtering processes of a diverse group of other liquids including syrups, sugars, beer, and wine. In addition, it is often used as a fulling agent for ceramics, paper, detergents, and paints, and its fire-resistant qualities make it excellent as a barrier material, such as that used in fire-resistant safes.

A large number of companies use DE in the manufacture of different types of filtering equipment. For example, the Industrial Filter Company in Fairfield, NJ manufactures diatomaceous earth filters for filtering liquids down to 1/2 micron which would be suitable for use with ceramic and carbide grinding coolants. Concord Screen in Buffalo, NY, however, manufactures dewatering screens for use in nuclear, hydroelectric, coal, gas, oil, chemical, municipal water treatment, waste treatment, power plants, brewing, distilling pulp and paper, petrochemical, mineral, and food processing industries.

If you browse the web, you will find a comprehensive listing of companies that make diatomaceous earth filters for various industrial purposes. You can find a number of suppliers who carry the products made by the various companies so that you will easily be able to find exactly the filters you need. If you’ve never checked into diatomaceous earth filtering before, it might be well worth your while to do a little research now.