Petrochemical Industry 4th class /lect.

Filtration
The Filtration process is the separation of solids from a suspension in a liquid by means of a
porous medium or screen. Filtration is a basic manufacturing process in the chemical-
manufacturing industry and is also employed for treatment of sewage, remove of wax from
lubricant oils

Mechanism of filtration
In the laboratory, filtration is often carried out using a form of Buchner funnel, and the liquid
is sucked through the thin layer of particles using a source of vacuum. In even simpler cases
the suspension is poured into a conical funnel fitted with a filter paper.

Figure 1 Buchner funnel

In the industrial equivalent, difficulties are encountered in the mechanical handling of much
larger quantities of suspension and solids. A thicker layer of solids has to form and, in order to
achieve a high rate of passage of liquid through the solids, higher pressures are needed. A
typical filtration Figure ( 2 ) which shows the filter medium, in this case a cloth, its support
and the layer of solids, or filter cake, which has already formed.

Figure 2 Filtration

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In Fig. (2) , the cake gradually builds upon the medium and the resistance to flow progressively
increases. During the initial period of flow, particles are deposited in the surface layers of the
cloth to form the true filtering medium.

The liquid to be filtered is called the slurry ( suspension) ; the liquid passed by the filter is called
the filtrate; and the solid material remaining on the filter is known as the filter cake .

The rate of filtration depends on:

(a) The pressure drop from the feed to the far side of the filter medium.

(b) The area of the filtering surface.

(c) The viscosity of the filtrate.

(d) The resistance of the filter cake.

(e) The resistance of the filter medium

The filter medium

The filter medium is a porous medium capable to passing liquid through ,while retaining solid

place without the medium and the overall performance of the filtration system depend on
properties of filter medium .

The properties of filter medium:

1. Mechanically strong

2. Resistant to the corrosive action of the fluid

3. Offer as little resistance as possible to the flow of filtrate.

4. Cheap in cost

The most important materials used as a medium for filtration

1. Textile materials such as silk, wool, nylon and plastic

2. hole sheets

3. Porous solids

4. Sand and asbestos

Types of filters:

The main factors to be considered when selecting equipment and operating conditions are:

(a) The properties of the fluid, particularly its viscosity, density and corrosive properties.

(b) The nature of the solid — its particle size and shape,

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(c) The concentration of solids in suspension.

(d) The quantity of material to be handled, and its value.

(e) Whether the valuable product is the solid, the fluid, or both.

(f) Whether it is necessary to wash the filtered solids.

Filters are classified according to the method of operation to the two filters are continues and
batch filters and the difference between the following types:

The continues filter The batch filter

1-Hight product by use low pressure 1- Use when the resistant of filter cake is high

2- Feed material continuously enters and exit 2- Feed material enter as a batch
from unit
3- Filter cake is removed difficulty
3- Filter cake is removed easily by physical
methods 4- Take the sample for test difficulty.

4- Take the sample for test easily

The press filter

This type of filter consists of plates and frames arranged alternatively and supported on a pair
of rails as shown in Figure (3). The plates have a ribbed surface and the edges stand slightly
proud and are carefully machined. The hollow frame is separated from the plate by the filter
cloth, and the press is closed either by means of a hand screw or hydraulically, using the
minimum pressure in order to reduce wear on the cloths.

Figure 3 the press filter

The slurry may be fed to the press through the continuous channel formed by the holes in the
corners of the plates and frames; in which case it is necessary to cut corresponding holes in the
cloths which themselves act as gaskets. Cutting of the cloth can be avoided by feeding through

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a channel at the side although rubber bushes must then be fitted so that a leak-tight joint is
formed. The filtrate runs down the ribbed surface of the plates and is then discharged through
a cock into an open launder so that the filtrate from each plate may be inspected and any plate
can be isolated if it is not giving a clear filtrate. In some cases the filtrate is removed through a
closed channel although it is not then possible to observe the discharge from each plate
separately.

Washing

Two methods of washing may be employed, “simple” washing and “through” or “thorough”
washing. With simple washing, the wash liquid is fed in through the same channel as the slurry
although, as its velocity near the point of entry is high, erosion of the cake takes place. The
channels which are thus formed gradually enlarge and uneven washing is usually obtained.
Simple washing may be used only when the frame is not completely full.

In thorough washing, the wash liquid is introduced through a separate channel behind the filter
cloth on alternate plates, known as washing plates shown in Figure(4) , and flows through the
whole thickness of the cake, first in the opposite direction and then in the same direction as the
filtrate.

Figure 4

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Advantages of the filter press
(a) Because of its basic simplicity, the filter press is versatile and may be used for a wide range
of materials under varying operating conditions of cake thickness and pressure.

(b) Maintenance cost is low.

(c) It provides a large filtering area on a small floor space and few additional associated units
are needed.

(d) Most joints are external and leakage is easily detected.

(e) High pressure operation is usually possible.

(f) It is equally suitable whether the cake or the liquid is the main product.

Disadvantages of the filter press

(a) It is intermittent in operation and continual dismantling is apt to cause high wear on the
cloths.

(b) Despite the improvements mentioned previously, it is fairly heavy on labour

Pressure leaf filters

Pressure leaf filters are designed for final discharge of solids in either a dry or wet state, under
totally enclosed conditions, with fully automatic operation.

Each type of pressure leaf filter features a pressure vessel in which are located one

or more filter elements or leaves of circular or rectangular construction. The filter media may
be in the form of a synthetic fibre or other fabrics, or metallic mesh. Supports and intermediate
drainage members are in coarse mesh with all components held together by edge binding. Leaf
outlets are connected individually to an outlet manifold which passes through the wall of the
pressure vessel.

The material to be filtered is fed into the vessel under pressure, and separation takes place with
the solids being deposited on the leaf surface, and the liquid passing through the drainage
system and out of the filter. Cycle times are determined by pressure, cake capacity or batch
quantity. Where particularly fine solids must be removed, a layer of precoat material may be
deposited on the leaves prior to filtration, using diatomaceous earth, Perlite, or other suitable
precoat materials.

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Rotary vacuum filter.

filter consists of a drum rotating about a horizontal axis mounted inside horizontal open vessel
, The surface of the drum is covered with a filter media , vacuum pump or some other vacuum
generating equipment to reduce the pressure under the filter medium, thereby increasing the
driving force across the filter medium.

A typical cycle for a batch type vacuum filter might be:

(a) Feeding of slurry to the open vessel

(b) drum is rotate cake formation and filtration by vacuum operation,
(c) Initial drying for maximum removal of mother liquor,
(d) Cake washing and drying,
(e) Manual discharge of solids,
(f) Cloth washing.

Advantages of rotary vacuum filter Disadvantages of rotary vacuum filter

1. automatic continuous operation 1. The pressure difference is limited so that

there is difficulty in filtering hot liquids
2. Work at different rotation speed because they tend to boil
3. Suitable for feed containing high percent 2. Not suitable for feed containing
of precipitate gelatinous materials due to difficult to
4. suitable for feed containing large particles remove it from cloth
size of solid material 3. Washing efficiency is low

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4. High capital cost

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References
1. Chemical Engineering, Volume (2) By Coulson & Richardson s, Fifth edition, 2002

2. Chemical Engineers Handbook. By Robert H.Perry.Don

3. Baghdad oil training institute (lectures)