Filtration

Filtration
Filter media:
Structural considerations: rigid, semi-rigid
Size and shape of pores and path through medium
Number of pores per unit area and uniformity of pores

Criteria for evaluation of filter media

Measured data of how small particle the media can stop
Permeability (the ability of medium to allow flow)
Relationship between buildup of cake in the medium and the rate of
increase of resistance to the flow

Filter media
Cartridge media
Have integral cylindrical configuration with
disposable or cleanable filter medium with
structural hardware
Most widely used
High specific area, low cost
Can be made of wound media, bonded fibers
made of glass, wool, cotton, etc

Cartridge filter

Rigid porous media

Porcelain, ceramics, sintered metals, etc
Fragile

Woven and non woven media

Materials for filter media:
Cellulose acetate, acrylic, fluorocarbons, glass,
nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene, PVDF, etc
Woven media

Mode of Filtration
Crossflow/Tangential filtration
Feed

Retentate
Permeate

Dead End filtration

Feed

Permeate

Types of Filtration
Deep-bed filtration

Suspension

Particles penetrate in to pores of filter medium

Surface of filter medium responsible for
filtration
Used for very dilute suspensions
Recovery of particles is not desired
Filter-bed get clogged with particles,
resistance increases to an unacceptable high
level leading to replacement of bed

Cake Filtration

Mechanism of Deep-bed filtration

Suspension

Particles from suspension deposited on porous

filter
With solid buildup on the filter, initial layers
effectively act as a filter

Mechanism of Cake filtration

Deep-bed filtration
Low depth of filter media
Early breakthrough, i.e. quicker appearance of turbidity
Low pressure drop

Large depth of filter media

High pressure drop, but more time before appearance of turbidity

Deep-bed filtration
Low depth of filter media
Early breakthrough, i.e. quicker appearance of turbidity
Low pressure drop

Large depth of filter media

High pressure drop, but more time before appearance of turbidity

Time to turbidity
breakthrough
tb
Time to
renew bed

Depth of filter media

Deep-bed filtration
Low depth of filter media
Early breakthrough, i.e. quicker appearance of turbidity
Low pressure drop

Large depth of filter media

High pressure drop, but more time before appearance of turbidity

Time to turbidity
breakthrough
tb
Time to
renew bed

Time to design
pressure drop
th

Depth of filter media

Manifests as
pump duty

Deep-bed filtration
Low depth of filter media
Early breakthrough, i.e. quicker appearance of turbidity
Low pressure drop

Large depth of filter media

High pressure drop, but more time before appearance of turbidity
Optimum
depth
Time to turbidity
breakthrough
tb
Time to
renew bed

Time to design
pressure drop
th
Region of possible
operation

Depth of filter media

Manifests as
pump duty

Deep-bed filtration
Particle diameter
Small diameter: larger area (also, high pressure drop)
Larger diameter: lower area (low pressure drop)

Rate of filtration
Higher rate: desirable, but may lead to early breakthrough

Increasing rate and/or particle diameter may lead to degradation in

performance
Compensate using greater depth?

Deep-bed filtration
Assuming, particulate screening to be first order phenomena,
we get:
Iwasaki Equation
Filtration coefficient

Deep-bed filtration
Assuming, particulate screening to be first order phenomena,
we get:
Iwasaki Equation
Filtration coefficient

Depth of filter media (L)

Deep-bed filtration
Assuming, particulate screening to be first order phenomena,
we get:
Iwasaki Equation
Filtration coefficient

Improvement achieved with depth

has diminishing returns, but rate of
filtration can be increased

Depth of filter media (L)