PLATE AND FRAME FILTER PRESS

1.0

OBJECTIVES
From this experiment, the objectives is to study the operation of filter press for

filtration by using calcium carbonate slurry. By the data obtained from this experiment, it can
be determined the filter medium resistancce and specific cake resistance from the filtration.

2.0

SUMMARY
In this experiment, the operation of filter press for filtration of calcium carbonate

slurry was determined. On the other hand, the filter medium resistance and specific cake
resistance from filtration data was obtained by the end of the experiment. The experiment was
achieved by following the manual instructions whereas the 5% of mixture between calcium
carbonate and water which become the slurry. On the other hand, the pressure drop used to get
the volume of filtrate is 30 psi. The sample of filtrate was taken at the different time intervals.
The results for weight and dry cake was collected for different tray and the different of total
of the weight is to be 0.8 kg. The time taken for the slurry to finished up inside the slurry tank
was taken. The results shows that the time taken for 100 L of slurry to finished is 22.46
minutes. Based on the tabulated result, the data for viscosity and density for three trays of
average differences filtrate collected at 20, 50 and 100 L. The differences in viscosity and
density of the different samples was affected by resistance in the tray. Futhermore, the graph
time per volume (s/L) vs filtrate volume has been plotted in order to analysed the t/V with the
filtrate volume and obtaining the straight line of graph. Moreover, the average of resistance of
filter medium resistance is 9.72x10^12 cm2/s while the average resistance for filter cake
resistance is 2.93x10^11 cm4/kg. In a nutshell, the efficiency of the filtration process is
determined by the filter medium resistance and also specific cake resistance in filter press
unit.

3.0

RESULTS

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1. Weight fraction of calcium carbonate in slurry:

A. Weight of wet cake

5.00

Table 1.0 Weight of wet cake

Tray 1 :

4360 g

Tray 2 :

290 g

Tray 3 :

200 g

Total :

4850 g

B. Weight of dry cake

Table 1.1 The weight of dry cake
Tray 1 :
Tray 2 :
Tray 3 :
Total :

i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

3910 g
120 g
50 g
4080 g

Weight ratio of wet cake to dry cake (mF/mC): 1.189 g

Density of calcium carbonate: 2.93 g/cm3
Total active filter area: 47 cm x 470 cm = 22090 cm2
Pressure drop (CP): 30 psi
Total filtration time: 1347.6 s
Total volume of filtrate: 100 litre

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Table 1.2: Filtrate volume and Time Data

Filtrate volume, V
(litre, L)

Time, t
(s)

t/V
(s/L)

59

11.8

10

241.8

24.18

15

301.8

20.12

20

361.2

18.06

25

422.4

16.90

30

481.8

16.06

35

546.6

15.62

40

608.4

15.21

45

670.2

14.89

50

731.4

14.63

55

793.8

14.43

60

853.8

14.23

65

915.6

14.09

70

975

13.93

75

1036.2

13.82

80

1099.2

13.74

85

1161.6

13.67

90

1224

13.60

95

1286.4

13.54

100

1347.6

13.48

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t/V versus V

Figure 1.0: Graph of t/V versus V

Table 1.3: Viscosity and Density of Filtrate at 5L, 40L and & 75L
Volume
Viscosity, (Pa.s)

20 L
0.001

50 L
0.0008

100 L
0.0008

Density, (g/cm3)

0.9972

0.9971

0.9971

Table 1.4: Filter medium resistance for three trays and average resistance
Rm1(20 L)
8.36 x10^12 cm2/s

Rm2 (50 L)
1.04x10^13 cm2/s

Rm3(100 L)
1.04x10^13 cm2/s

Average Rm
9.72x10^12 cm2/s

Table 1.5: Filter cake resistance for three trays and average resistance
1 (20 L)

2 (50 L)

3 (100 L)

Average

7.04 x 10^11 cm4/kg

8.80x10^10cm4/kg

8.80x10^10 cm4/kg

2.93x10^11 cm4/kg

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4.0

DISCUSSION

In this experiment, the operation of filter press for filtration of calcium carbonate
slurry and filter medium resistance and specific cake resistance from filtration was obtained.
Basically, filtration is the removal of solid particles from a fluid by passing the fluid thrugh a
filtering medium on which the solid are deposited. Theoritically, filter press is a separation
process whereby employed by solid and liquid separation or known as slurry using the
principle of pressure drive. The pressure drive provided by a slurry pump. Filter press is a
fixed volume and batch operation. In this experiment, a liquidsolid filtration is carried out
which is often called cakefiltration.
The experiment was start up by dissolving 5 kg of calcium carbonate into a 100 litres
of water in the slurry tank. The mix of water and calcium carbonate known as slurry. The
slurry was let to be stirred in the tank for several minutes. After that, the filtration process was
done by starting up the pump and the slurry flowing through the filtering medium. The result
was collected and tabulated by taking its time for every 5 L for the filtration yield to
discharged from the filter press machine. The process continously ran until the slurry in the
tank is finished.
Based on table 1.2, the result obtained show that the the t/V is highest at the 10 L
which is at the 24.18 s/L. As the time increases, the t/v was decreasing over time. Basically,
the filter cakes are accumulated in each of the hollow frame. As the filter medium becoming
thicker due to the slurry stucked by, the resistance was also increased. Hence, the increasing
resistance will affecting the t/V to become highest. On the other hand, the plotted graph shows
that the t/V decreasing over time since as time volume increasing, the filter cake resistance is
increasing since the the calcium carbonate in the slurry are retained on the surface of the
medium where they build up, forming an increasing thicker cake. However, the fluctuation of
the graph at 5 L to 10 L is due to the mechanical problem. The pump was suddenly stop after
5 L reading hence the time taken for the next 10 L was increasing since the pressure drive of
slurry to the filter medium is zero.

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For the cake filtration, the effeciency of the filtering medium was being obtained and
analysed. Based on the result, it can be seen that the highest weight of wet cake is at the first
tray of the filter medium. The weight obtained is 4.36 kg while for the second and third tray is
0.29 kg and 0.20 kg respectively. This result shows that the effeciency of filtration is
decreasing as passing the tray. On the other hand, Table 1.3 shows a results of the viscosity
and density of filtrate at 20, 50 and 100 L. The result obtained shows that the the highest
viscosity and density is at the first 20 L. This is due to the filter cake build up at the tray
affecting the viscosity and density. Theoritically, viscosity is measure of how the fluid flows
or the thickness of the fluid while density is a degree of compactness of the substances. As
the slurry passing by the filter more cake resistance were build up at the tray and become
resistance hence make just a fewer particle succeed to tresspassing the filter. This situation
make the viscosity and density at 50 L and 100 L are decreasing.
Table 1.4 shows the filter medium resistance for three trays and average resistance
while table 1.5 shows the filter cake resistance for three trays and average resistance. The
higher resistance shows at the 20 L which is 8.36 x10 ^12 cm2/s compared to the 100 L which is
9.72x10^12 cm2/s. On the other hand, the filter cake resistance shows that the higher number is
at 20 L which is 7.04 x 10^11 cm4/kg. In addition, the amount of the filtrate should be same as
the feed. Basically, the filtrate which is in the dry cake should be same as the feed which is 5
kg of calcium carbonate. Based on result, the dry cake obtained is 4.08 kg from 4.85 kg of wet
cake after the drying process. This is due to the filtration of the calcium carbonate was not
100% fully achieved. Futhermore, a straight line which connecting all of the points will
determined the 100% effeciency of the filtration process. Some of the erros might be due to
the error during running the experiment such as the failure of the pump and also the deposit
and blocking of the calcium carbonate in the experiment.

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5.0

CONCLUSION
Based on the experiment, it can be concluded that the filter press instrument filtering a

solid particles from a fluid by using a filtering medium on which solid are deposited. As the
more deposited cake on the filtering medium, the higher the resistance was. Futhermore, the
average filter medium resistance and specific cake resistance had been determined by
referring to the graph. On the other hand, the weight of wet and dry cake has been determined
where it shows the percentage of the filtration process. Moreover, the pressure drop, filter
medium and also the size of particles affecting the average filter medium resistance and
specific cake resistance.
The recommendation for the experiment in order to get the accurate result is by
monitoring the pump so it would not be stop a certain time thus affecting the time taken for
each volume. Other than that, the mixture of the calcium carbonate and water or sluury should
be mixed well before going through the filtration process. Futhermore, as the reading of
viscosity are too slightly different, hece the test by using viscosity meter should use the
medium spindle and the speed should be less than 50 mm/s in order to get the accurate
reading. As a conclusion, the objectives of this experiment in order to study on how filtration
works on the operation of filter press for filtration calcium carbonate slurry and its filter
medium resistance and specific cake resistance was succesfully achieved.

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6.0

APPENDIX

APPENDIX
Graph and Calculation
1. Plot the data relating

versus V to obtain a straight line graph.

2. The slope of each line is

in seconds per litre and

from the intercept of the line.

Linear equation
t/V = (Kc / 2)V + 1/qo
y = - 0.0569 + 18.287
-Find Kc
Because m =

, so unit for

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, Kc = 28450

Find qo
= y-intercept

qo = 0.0547 x

qo = 5.468 x

3. Find the value of filter medium resistance (Rm) and cake resistance () from the equation:
Table 7: Viscosity of filtrate ()
At V= 20 L : 0.001 Pa.s
At V= 50 L :

0.0008 Pa.s

At V= 100 L:

0.0008 Pa.s

Pressure drop = 30 psi [(1.01325 105Pa) / 14.696psi] = 206841.998 Pa

=
A = 22090 cm2 = 2.209 m2

=
= 8.36 1012 m-1
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Table 5: Calculated filter medium resistance for three trays.

Rm1(20 L)
8.36 x10^12 cm2/s

Rm2 (50 L)
1.04x10^13 cm2/s

Rm3(100 L)
1.04x10^13 cm2/s

Rm = Rm1 + Rm2 + Rm3

= 9.72x10^12 cm2/s

4. Finding the value of cake resistance ( ) using value () from table 7:

c =
=
=

= 40.8
=

=
= 7.04 1011 m/kg
Table 6: Calculated filter cake resistance for three trays.
1 (20L)

2 (50L)

3 (100L)

7.04 x 10^11 cm4/kg

8.80x10^10cm4/kg

8.80x10^10 cm4/kg

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=
= 2.93x10^11 cm4/k

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7.0

REFERENCES

1. Plate and Frame Filter Press Construction and Working Theory

Retrieved from: http://www.leofilterpress.com/filter_press/?555.html
2. Trebal, R. E. (1980). Chemical Engineering Series: Mass Transfer Operation. 3rd
Edition International Editions in Related Fields: Mcgraw-Hill.
3. Filter Press Operation
Retrieved from: http://www.industry animated.org/teachers
%20notes/filter_press_pdf.pdf

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