The Solid/Liquid Separation Unit

Engineering Services

Our Unit Systems
SMEs

  • Rotary Drum, Horizontal Belt, Disc Vacuum Filter Systems

  • 100 psi / 225 psi Filter Press Systems Recessed Chamber/Membrane Plates

  • Pressure Leaf, Pressure or Vacuum Nutsche, Pressure Candle Filter Systems

  • Decanter, Pusher, Peeler, Disc Stack Centrifuge Systems

  • Crossflow MF, UF, Nano, RO Membrane Systems

  • Filter Fabric Selection, Filter Aids Selection, Instrumentation

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Our Performance Analysis

For nearly 40 years, we have specialized in solid-liquid separation equipment performance for the process industries.  Our analysis is customer focused, to examine all aspects of the separation step, in troubleshooting bottlenecks in the process flow sheet.  The target production rate, the target solids and filtrate qualities, including the machine uptime reliability, are determined by the physical properties of the solids phase and the liquid phase, for the batch or continuous process.  Our recommendation includes the machine setpoints and specifications that will yield the highest reliability to deliver the target purity and production rate of both solid and liquid phases.

 The following variables are analyzed 

·        particle type, e.g., discrete, colloidal, crystalline

·        particle size distribution range

·        suspended solids concentration

·        dissolved solids concentration

·        density/specific gravity of solids phase and liquid phase

·        slurry viscosity at the operating temperature

·        electrical forces or static charges

·        temperature

·        pH

·        settling rate

·        specific cake resistance at optimized cake thickness

·        cake washing requirements at lowest Wash:Solids Ratio

·        interfering contaminants, e.g., oils, fats, organic solubles

·        preconditioning required with flocculants and/or coagulants

·        filter aid conditioning with precoating and/or body feeding

We provide on-site laboratory bench studies, and can coordinate on-site pilot plant trials, to model the optimum mass balance based on machine operating setpoints. 

Studies apply ASTM analytical test methods to characterize the feed slurry, the filter cake, and the final filtrate TS, TDS, and TSS . Clients may perform additional tests with GC or MS.

Our technical summary of the studies includes a filtration curve, a dewatering curve, and a cake washing curve.  A preliminary P&ID, with a projected mass balance calculation, is provided.  The final pilot plant report then supports the final P&ID, with the defined mass balance based on specific commercial machine operating setpoints, that reliably scale to the commercial process.

Our
Projects

  • Silica Processing

    Magnesium Silicates, Sodium Silicates, Calcium Silicates, Silica Gel, Zeolites, Molecular Sieves, Rare Earth Silicates

  • Food and Beverage Processing

    Gluten, Starch, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Synthetic Sugars, Molasses, Citric Acid, Enzymes, Fatty Acids, Fermentation Broths, Juices, Distilled Spirits, Beer, Wine, Coffee

  • Mining Processing

    Alumina, Bauxite, Ilmenite, Selenium, Copper Concentrate, Lithium Carbonate, Rare Earths, Soda Ash, Talc, Coal Prep Plant, Activated Carbon, Attapulgite, Kaolin Clay

  • Pigment and Resin Processing

    Ilmenite, Titanium Dioxide, Pthalocyanine Blue, Lithol Rubine, Acrylic Emulsion, Nickel Carbonate, Barium Carbonate, Cobalt Carbonate

  • Chemical Processing

    Chlor-Alkali Brine, Sodium Hypochlorite, Mineral Acids, PVC Resin, Carbonates, Hydroxides, Fluorides, Polymers, Catalysts, Surfactants, Rheological Agents

  • Pulp and Paper Processing

    Green Liquor, Black Liquor, Fiber Recovery, Coatings, Fly Ash

  • Steel Mill Processing

    BOF Furnace, Hot Strip Rolling Mill, Acid Plant, Zinc Galvanizing Plant

  • Petrochemical Processing

    Elemental Sulphur, Molten Sulphur, Blowdown, Polishing

  • Biofuels Processing

    Fats, oil, and greases, soybean oil, tall oil, used cooking oil, algae, cellulosic feedstocks, bio-digesters

  • Vegetable Oils, Edible and Inedible Oil Processing

    Edible Fats and Oils Refining, High Oleic Oils, Plant-based Lipids, Canola, Coconut, Olive, Soybean, Corn Oils, Tallow, Wheat Germ, Waste Frying Oil Recovery