Dr Philipp Wimmer from the research and development team of German viscose speciality fibre manufacturer Kelheim Fibres will make the presentation showing how sustainable viscose speciality fibres can be used avoiding the use of potentially hazardous diatomite.
Kelheim says that by adding viscose fibres the porosity and surface of a filter can be precisely controlled helping, for example, the removal of tannins from beer.
As the additives are absorbed by the fibres, they do not affect the physical properties of the filter and cannot migrate back into the product.
Viscose fibres are taste neutral and are currently used in food and beverage applications, for example in coffee pads and tea bag papers.
Kelheim’s research team is now working on a range of other filtration applications.
Kelheim says that as viscose fibres are manufactured from renewable raw materials, incineration at the end of filter life is CO2 neutral, or – if the residue in the filter allows – they can be composted.
FILTECH takes place from February 24-26 in Cologne, Germany.
