MODULE 7: PARTICULATE SEPARATIONS 1

FILTRATION
This is the mechanical separation of solid particles from a fluid by passing the fluid through a
filtering medium, or septum, on which the solids are deposited. The most common filtering
medium is fabric cloth with strong mechanical properties. The fabric causes the solid particles to
become entangled on the surface of the cloth, resulting in the formation of a layer of solids, and
the buildup of the solids on the layer. Filtration separation is driven by the pressure difference
(p) between two sides of the filtration medium, created either by a pressure on the upstream
side, by a vacuum at the downstream side. For filtration to take place, external force is applied to
a fluid-solid mixture to make it flow through the medium.

Definition of terms:
Slurry: Suspension to be filtered
Filter medium: Porous medium used to retain solid
Filter cake: Accumulated solids on the filter
Filtrate: Fluid passing through the filter

The liquidsolid filtration is often called cakefiltration. In cake filtration, the separation of
solids from the slurry by the filtering medium is effective during the initial stages of filtration;
later, the solid layer deposited on the filter increases in thickness with time, making the
resistance to the fluid flowing through the filter to increase. The rate of filtration is strongly
affected by properties of the slurry, compressibility of solid cake and viscosity of liquid.

There are two types of cakefiltration operation:

a. Constant-pressure: Here, the rate of filtration will decrease with time if a constant pressure is
applied to the fluid.
b. Constant filtering rate: Here, in order to maintain constant filtering rate, pressuredrop
increases with time
Usually, filtration process is operated in a way that the solid (filter cake) is removed periodically
from the filter before the resistance becomes extremely high.

There are two common types of filters:

a. The plate and frame press
b. Rotary-drum filter

The filtration process in rotary-drum filter is continuous whereas the filtration process in plate
and frame press filter is a batch.

The plate and frame press filter

Consists of series of plates and frames sandwiched alternatively; cakes are built-up inside the
frameclamber. Cloth, filtering medium, is supported on a corrugated material. There are slurry
and filtrate ports.
While designing the plate and frame press filter, dismantling and reassembling times, removal
of cake from each frame, and other operations such as washing and drying of cakes are very
important and should be given adequate consideration.

How it works
Working of the plate and frame press filter can be divided into two steps:
1. Filtration operation
2. Washing of cake (if desirable)
Washing operation

Slurry enters the frame from the feed channel and passes through the filter medium on
the surface of the plate

The solid forms a filter cake and remain in the frame

The thickness of the cake is half of the frame thickness, because on each side of frame
filtration occurs

Thus two filter cakes are formed , which meet eventually in the centre of the frame

The filtrate drains between the projections of the surface of the plate and escape from the
outlet

As filtration proceeds, the resistance of the cake increases and filtration rate decrease

At a certain point process is stopped and press is emptied and cycle is restarted

Washing operation

To wash the filter cake, the outlets of washing plates are closed.

Wash water is pumped in the washing channel.

The water enters through the inlets on the surface of washing plate.

Water passes through the filter cloth and enters frame which contains the cake.

Then water washes the cake, passes through the filter cloth and enters the plate down the
surface.

Finally washed water escapes through the outlet of that plate.

Rotary-drum filter

How it works

A portion of the cylinder (rotary drum) submerged in the trough is subjected to vacuum
applied to the outlet, which is connected to the filtrate receiver.

A layer of solids (cake) builds up on the drum as the liquid is drained through cloth; the
cake formed is drained or partially dried by vacuum.

The drum is sprayed with water to wash the cake.

Retaining the vacuum connection drains the cake and produces partial dryness then,
removed by a doctor knife.

When the solids of the slurry are too much that the filter cloth becomes blocked with the
particles, a pre-coat filter may be used.

A pre-coat of filter aid is deposited on the drum prior to the filtration process.

Characteristics of ideal filter medium

1. Be capable of delivering a clear filtrate at a suitable production rate.
2. Have sufficient mechanical strength.
3. Be inert.
4. Retain the solids without plugging at the start of filtration.
5. Not absorb dissolve material.

Principles of Cake Filtration

Pressuredrop is applied across the filter.

In the filter bed, the velocity is sufficiently low to ensure laminar flow; accordingly, as a starting
point for treating the pressure drop through the cake, an equation of the form below applies:
150(1 )2
=
2

( ) 3

(1)

Where,

=

And =
Expressing pressure drop as a function of surface-volume ratio instead of particle size
Where,

= 6 ( )

(2)

Then,
2
2
(
)
4.17
1

(3)

2
2
(
)
4.17 1 ( )

=
3

(4)

The volume of solids in the cake layer =(1 )

If the density of the particle is
Mass of the solid in the layer, = (1 )

So,

(1 )

(5)

(6)

Substituting for in equation(4);

2

4.17(1 ) ( )

=
3

(7)

Integrating;
2

(
)
4.17
1

0
2

4.17(1 ) ( )

=
=
3

Let 1 = 4.17
2

1 (1 ) ( )

=
=
3

(8)

Rearranging;
2

1 ( ) (1 )

=
3

(9)

The term on the LHS is equivalent to the term on the RHS and are called the specific
cake resistance
2

1 ( ) (1 )

=
3

(9)

(9)

The cake resistance,

=

(10)

From equation (10),

=

Where

By analogy with the cake resistance, filter medium resistance, can be defined as:

=
=

(11)

Where

From equation(11),

(11b)

Total pressure drop,

= +

=
+

= (

+ )

(12)

Rearranging equation (12);

1

=
(
+ )

(13)

Let:

=
=

=
From material balance, =

(14)

Substituting for in equation(13),

1

=
(
+ )

(15)

Linear velocity, u is given by the equation:

() 1
=

Taking the inverse of equation (16)
() =

(16)

1
1
=
=

Substituting for

(17)

in equation (15),

=
(
+ )

=
(
+ )

(18)

Constant pressure filtration

At time, = 0, effect of cake is negligible
From equations (17)and(18)
(

) =
=
0 0

(19)

At time, = , ( (17) (18)),

1

= = 2 +

Let

(19)

= = +

(20)

Using equation(19) in (20)

1
1
= = +

0
Separating variables and integrating between limits (0,0) (t,V) variables
= ( +

1
)
0

= +

2
+
2
0

(21)

Divide through by V;

1
=
+

2
0

(21)

Constant rate filtration

From equation (9),
=

(22)

(23)

recall, =

Recall:
=

1 1
=
( )

( )
=
(24)

Rearranging;
2
= 2

2
=
( )

(25)

Exercise
In a laboratory, CaCO 3 slurry in water at 25o C was filtered at constant pressure drop of 338kPa.
The filter area of the pilot plate-andframe press was 0.0439m2 , the slurry concentration was
c=23.47kg/m3 and its viscosity was 8.937 104 . .
a. For this laboratory filtration process, calculate the constants and from the
experimental data given in the table below
b. Using the same pressure drop as above, the same slurry is to be filtered industrially with a
plate-and-frame press having 20 frames and 0.873 m2 area per frame. Calculate the time
to recover 3.37m3 filtrate assuming the same filter cake properties and filter cloth.

t(s)

V(m3 )

4.4

0.498 103

9.5

1.000 103

16.3

1.501 103

24.6

2.000 103

34.7

2.498 103

46.1

3.002 103

59.0

3.506 103

73.6

4.004 103

89.4

4.502 103

107.3

5.009 103

Hint

Calculate and tabulate data

Plot versus V

From your graph determine the intercept as (the value is around 6400s/ m3 ) and

slope as

(the value is around 3.00 106 s/ m6 )

Using the value of the intercept and equation (19a) calculate

Using the value of the slope, make the subject,

then calculate using equation (19b)

Determine the new filter area from the new values given in the question

Note that from equation (19a),

is inversely proportional to filter area; based on

the new filter area, calculate the new value of

Note that from equation (19b), is inversely proportional to the square of the
filter area; based on the new filter area, calculate the new value of

Using the new values of

and in equation (21a), calculate the required time.