Supported filtration - Theoretical aspects

In support filtration, the suspension to be filtered is introduced under pressure into a capacity closed by a cloth (support), onto which the particles settle, while the filtrate is collected beyond.

We know (or can know) the characteristics of the particles in the suspension (particle size, specific surface area, equivalent diameters), the concentration (mass or volume ratio) of the particles in the suspension, the suspension temperature (and therefore the viscosity of the liquid phase). The volume of filtrate and mass of cake collected can then be calculated with acceptable accuracy as a function of time, depending on the conditions adopted: type of feed, filter surface, etc.

This article successively presents the basic equations for calculating and predicting the filtration of a given suspension based on simple tests.