Filtration and separation properties of multi-phase solid-liquid-liquid Suspensions (multi-component suspensions)

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Urs Peuker
• Subject Area: Mechanical Process Engineering
• Term: from 2014 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 266337472

The investigations focus on the processing and filtration properties of multi-component suspensions, which consist of a mother liquid containing a disperse solid phase (particles) and a disperse liquid phase (droplets). Multi-component suspensions are also called suspo-emulsions. The technical occurrence of these multi component suspensions are processes in the oil and gas, base materials as well as in pharmaceutical and chemical industry. Both large processing streams as well as suspo-emulsions with complex interfacial chemistry lack an efficient strategy, which allows the separation of the three phases. The overall aim is the development of a strategy for cake filtration, which allows the separation of the two-component pore liquid within the multi-component suspension and the solid particles from each other. One focus is on the properties of the pore system, which is built up by filtration. The question to be answered is how the pore structure and the property function depend on the interactions between the particles and the droplets. The mobility of the two incorporated liquid phases within the pore structure is essential for the mechanical separation. Process related experiments and a high-resolution analysis by computer tomography using an in-situ-filtration-cell will provide an idea of the structuring and incorporation of the two liquid phases into the porous system. The activities also include the methodical development of the in-situ filtration experiments for the three phase system. One main task here is the resolution between continuous aqueous and disperse oil phase in the presence of the particles. This involves the question under which material or process parameters coalescence occurs, which leads to a macroscopic distribution of the second liquid within the pores or whether the emulsion structure remains unchanged within the pore liquid. Furthermore, the interaction of liquid and solid particles has to be taken into consideration. This may lead to agglomeration and the formation of liquid bridges between the particles of the cake structure affecting the cake properties like compressibility and durability. Due to the fact that particles and droplets may interact with capillary forces the multi-component filter cakes show an interesting consistency and flow behavior. These will be characterized in collaboration with the University of Melbourne (Fluid Particle Research Centre).The fundamental understanding will allow setting up a model using the pore network approach. This model will be used in future for the dimensioning and process optimization of the separation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants