diatomaceous earth (DE), widely used in filtration, is a naturally occurring, highly porous, chalky textured sedimentary rock made mainly of silica and consisting of fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. It is also known as Kieselguhr. There are, however, increasing concerns about potential health hazards and safe disposal of used DE.
ยฉ Jancis Robinson and Oxford University Press 1994, 1999, 2006, 2015
