| 摘要 |
A purification system and method for removing neutral, as well as ionic, contaminants from liquids through the use of an electrophoretic purifier (100) followed by a particulate filter purifier (300) is disclosed. The present invention is particularly useful in the electrostatic printing industry. The purifiers are connected in series. The first purifier has a repelling electrode (115) and a rotating drum (101) which collects charged particulate contaminants and debris (109). A liquid such as spent liquid toner is passed across a gap (111) between the repelling electrode (115) and the rotating drum (101). The contaminants (109), including colored toner particles and paper debris, move electrophoretically across the gap (111) and adhere to the rotating drum (101). Upward motion of the drum surface brings the accumulated deposit out of the gap region and to a scraper blade (104) which removes the deposit from the drum for subsequent disposal. The partially purified liquid is collected and then passed through a second purifier (300) which has a porous particulate material (316), such as activated charcoal, that retains the contaminants. The contaminants remaining within the liquid after the pass through the first purifier, mostly molecules that were electrically neutral during the pass through the first purifier, are thereby removed. A highly purified liquid, virtually free of contaminants, emerges from the second purifier (300).
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