Multidimensional fractionation of suspended particles by use and modification of wetting properties / selective agglomeration

Applicant Professor Dr.-Ing. Ulrich Bröckel
Subject Area Mechanical Process Engineering
Term from 2017 to 2022
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 381630096
 

Project Description

It is objective of this proposal to carry out a multidimensional fractionation of suspended particles smaller than 10µm based on usage and modification of surface energies. This can be done using the selective agglomeration in liquids. Agglomeration in liquids consists of two fluid and one heterogeneous solid phase. The liquid phases must have a miscibility gap. The second liquid acts as a binding liquid which preferentially wets one solid component. Thus agglomerates in the suspension are formed. Based on different surface energies and an increase of the contact angle at the roughness of particles the suspended particles can be separated according size and wetting properties or size and shape. The wetting properties can be modified by changing the pH-level or the addition of surface active substances. The resulting agglomerates consist of selectively wetted particles and show the 10- to 100-fold diameter of primary particles. Finally, the agglomerates can be separated from the suspension using a sieve
DFG Programme Priority Programmes
Subproject of SPP 2045:  Highly specific and multidimensional fractionation of fine particle systemes with technical relevance