A composite filter aid may include acid-washed diatomaceous earth and a low extractable metal mineral. A method for making a composite material may include blending an acid-washed diatomaceous earth and a low extractable metal mineral, adding a binder to the blended diatomaceous earth and low extractable metal mineral, and forming the composite material from the acid-washed diatomaceous earth, the low extractable metal mineral, and the binder. A method for filtering a liquid may include providing a liquid for filtering and filtering the liquid through a composite filter aid that includes an acid-washed diatomaceous earth and a low extractable metal mineral.

The metal-supported zeolite for alcoholic beverages of the present invention is a zeolite that carries a metal component, wherein the metal component is silver, and the zeolite is at least one selected from a beta-type one and a Y-type one. The metal-supported zeolite is for removing unwanted components contained in alcoholic beverages.

Pouring spouts used to filter bottled liquids as they are poured from a bottle containing such liquids.

The present invention relates to mesoporous silica particles functionalized with at least one group having an acidic functionality and/or at least one group having a hydrophobic functionality anchored to the silica by means of a silicon-oxygen bond. The acidic functionality is preferably an alkyl group bearing a group selected from SO.sub.3H, COOH, PO(OH).sub.2.

The hydrophobic functionality is preferably a saturated, linear alkyl group.

The invention also relates to the use of the mesoporous silica particles for the removal of proteins from and/or the reduction of the concentration of several metals in a beverage having a pH lower than 4, preferably wine, beer, cider, and a combination thereof.

The metal-supported zeolite for alcoholic beverages of the present invention is a zeolite that carries a metal component, wherein the metal component is silver, and the zeolite is at least one selected from a beta-type one and a Y-type one. The metal-supported zeolite is for removing unwanted components contained in alcoholic beverages.

A highly purified diatomite composition may include greater than or equal to 90% silica, from about 0.5% to about 5% of a calcium-containing compound, and less than or equal to about 2% total of aluminum-containing oxides and iron-containing oxides. A method of making a highly purified diatomite composition may include providing a diatomite comprising at least 5% of a calcium-containing compound, calcining the diatomite, and acid washing the calcined diatomite. The calcined, acid-washed diatomite may include less than or equal to about 1% total of extractable aluminum-containing oxides and iron-containing oxides, and less than or equal to about 5% of the calcium-containing compound. The acid washing may include an acid selected from the group consisting of sulfuric acid (H.sub.2SO.sub.4), hydrochloric acid (HCl), and nitric acid (HNO.sub.3). The method may not include a flotation step.

A method for improving liquor such as gin, vodka, or rum. A liquor is combined with activated charcoal at between 0.5% and 2.5% on a weight per volume basis of the liquor to form a mixture. The activated charcoal is bottled with the liquor to improve flavor and change the color of the liquor. The activated charcoal may sequester impurities so the consumer does not taste the impurities. Additionally, activated charcoal may prevent the consumer from digesting impurities that would otherwise cause the hangover effect. The liquor and activated charcoal combination may be bottled in a manner that agitating the bottle causes resuspension of the colorant to increase the contract of a partially transparent label.

A system and method of the purification of drinking water, ethanol and alcohol beverages is based on the action of hydrodynamic cavitation processing of microbiological and chemical contaminants, micro particles and colloidal particles. The fluid flow moves at a high rate through a multi-stage cavitation device and filtration module to generate hydrodynamic cavitation features in the fluid flow. The cavitation features generate changes in the velocity, pressure, temperature, chemical composition and physical properties of the liquid. The cavitation features also prevent the deposition of contaminants upon and remove contaminants from the surface of the filter module, reduce the load on the filter elements and increase the life of the filter module.

A composite filter aid may include a first mineral selected from diatomaceous earth and natural glass. The filter aid may also include a second mineral having and aspect ratio greater than about 2:1, and a binder. The filter aid may have a permeability ranging from 0.2 to 20 darcys. A method for making a composite filter aid may include blending a first mineral, a second mineral, and a binder, wherein the first mineral comprises at least one of diatomaceous earth and natural glass, and the second mineral has an aspect ratio greater than about 2:1. The method may further include agglomerating the first mineral and second mineral in the presence of the binder to form the composite filter aid. A method for filtering a beverage may include using the composite filter aid.