Re: [APD] diatomite

[Billionzz at aol_com]

Hi Scott, 
 
Thanks for your help,
 
 I was looking online to see if I could find  that brand in the Houston area 
and thought you might be interested in this site,  the prices are a little 
cheaper.
_http://www.coolpooldeals.com/pumpscleanersheaters/filteringmedia/diatomaceous
.html_ 
(http://www.coolpooldeals.com/pumpscleanersheaters/filteringmedia/diatomaceous.html) 
 
Below is some information I found  interesting.
 
What is Diatomite? (Also known as  Kieselguhr and diatomaceous earth)
Diatomite is a fossilised mineral  of vegetable origin. It is the 
accumulation of an enormous number of fossil  diatoms. 

Diatoms are single cell plants of microscopic size. There are  many varieties 
that live in both freshwater lakes and saltwater oceans, staying  close to 
the surface where they form part of the abundant plankton. Alive, they  are at 
the base of the food chain. Dead, they leave a tiny skeleton known as a  
frustule. 

Whereas most other plants use solar energy to synthesise  cellulose for their 
cell walls, the diatom extracts amorphous silica from the  water, building 
for itself what amounts to an elegant, but strong shell with  highly symmetrical 
perforations. 

Diatoms reproduce themselves in bi-cell  divisions every few hours and it has 
been estimated that a single diatom could  produce up to 1,000,000,000 diatoms

In its natural (milled) state, the  individual diatoms are extremely small 
and would form a very fine (low  permeability) filter-cake, which would be too â
slowâ for most filtration  applications. To create larger particles, the 
diatoms are fused together at high  temperatures. These larger particles are then 
classified, according to their  specification. 

Large deposits are now open-cast mined in the USA,  Northern Europe and 
Iceland. 
Two types of Diatomite are  processed:

    1.  Freshwater origin, which are tubular and extremely effective  and 
efficient in the removal of very fine solids and applications where fast  
flow-rates are required. All types are processed at temperatures ranging from  8000 
to 11000ÂC. Both calcined and process-calcined Diatomite filter aids are  free 
of organic matter and are non-absorptive. Celatom is a fresh water brand  of 
diatomite.  
    2.  Seawater origin, which are composed of rods, flowers, boats  and 
snowflake shapes. These have the same use as freshwater daitomites, they  are just 
a different shape.

 (http://www.flexibulk.co.uk/flexibulk_web/ask_bulk.html#top) 
Bill
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