TABLE OF CONTENTS In this chapter practical methods of obtaining information for filtration, consolidation, cake washing, gas deliquoring and sedimentation are described. The aim is to illustrate how important data for equipment selection (see Chapter 5), scale-up and process simulation (see Chapters 6 and 7) can be measured in the laboratory using either well established, manually operated apparatus or state-of-the-art, automated apparatus. In some cases details of step-by-step experimental procedures are presented to illustrate best practice. Methods of data analysis are also presented and their use is illustrated through worked examples.
The fundamental concepts that underpin this chapter are not described in detail, as emphasis is placed on more practical issues. The interested reader is referred to Wakeman and Tarleton (2005a,b).
Filtration tests can be carried out with quite simple apparatus where the objectives are principally twofold. Firstly, cake formation rate is required for preliminary equipment selection, and secondly parameters such as cake specific resistance and solids concentration values are needed, ideally as functions of the applied pressure/vacuum, for filter sizing and filtration rate calculations (Tarleton, 1998a,b; Tarleton and Wakeman, 1994c, 1999; Wakeman and Tarleton, 1990, 1991a, 1994a).
Figure 4.1 shows a test filter comprising a funnel, a graduated cylinder and a vacuum generation system that can be used to obtain basic data. The drainage characteristics of the normal ceramic perforate bottom Buchner funnel are poor and make it unsuitable for these tests; it is preferable to use a filter funnel with a porous...
