Maschinenfabrik Gustav Eirich, Hardheim, Germany, has supplied two Type RV16 mixers to a major Chinese manufacturer of synthetic zeolite powders which has specialised in this activity since 2002.

At the customer's production facility the two EIRICH mixers operate fully automatically, replacing six granulating drums, each of which had to be monitored and adjusted by workers. The short batch times of the RV16 mixers (usable capacity of 900 litres/1440kg) and increased yield of good product proved to be advantageous, and significant energy savings were achieved overall. EIRICH also supplied the screw feeders, balances and control system. The Chinese company has now chosen to work with EIRICH for the production of small granulates.

Zeolites are alumino-silicates that have a structure of uniformly shaped pores or channels, in which substances can be adsorbed. In the case of naturally occurring zeolites, this is usually water, which can be driven out of the pores by heating up the zeolite. The product can then be used as an extremely effective drying agent, e.g. for gases or organic solvents. Synthetic zeolites with defined pore sizes have been manufactured since around 1960. Since these can only adsorb molecules that are smaller than the pores, they are known as molecular sieves. The internal surface areas of these zeolites can exceed 1000m² per gram, offering many different potential applications, including as catalysts in the chemical industry.

For many applications, the zeolites – which come in powder form – are then still mixed with special additives and transformed into granulate form. EIRICH mixers have proved themselves in many industries for mixing and granulating. Available in sizes from 1 l to 3000 litres, these mixers only require a single moving mixing tool, known as the rotor.  Depending on the task, the rotor can run at speeds up to more than 30m/s. This makes it possible to generate high shear forces and distribute solids or liquids quickly. Varying the tools and speeds can have a considerable influence on the grain spectrum.

Eirich can help interested parties find solutions for mixing and granulating processes to deliver the best conditions for production at lower cost. Test centres are available at all of its sites around the world, where processes can be optimised with customers’ own products.
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EIRICH Type RV16 mixer with a capacity of 900 litres

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