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1.0 OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this experiment are to study the operation of filter press for filtration of
calcium carbonate slurry and to determine filter medium resistance and specific cake
resistance from the filtration data obtained from the experiment.
2.0 SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
The objective for this experiment is to study the operation of plate and frame filter press
and determine the filter medium resistance and specific cake resistance from the filtration
data obtained. Filter press is a separation process to separate liquid and solid mixture, or
in this experiment, slurry liquid. To get a slurry liquid, calcium carbonate weight 3kg
were mixed with water, and stirred till it gets slurry. The mixture was then poured into a
reactor to be stirred for a few min before experiment starts. Once the machine starts, the
time was recorded for every 5L of filtrate produced. The filtrate is thrown away but
filtrate of 5L, 50L and 100 L were kept to determine its viscosities and densities using
viscometer. Next, the cake produced at each frame and filter press were collected and
weigh before dried for one whole day. The cake need to be weigh the next day, after it is
fully dried. The viscocity and density for each volume are 0.80 Pa.s for 5L,1.12 Pa.s for
50L, and 1.21 Pa.s. For the density 1.0067 g/cm3 for 5L,1.0146 g/cm3 for 50L, and for
100L is 1.012 g/cm3respectively. This means that the fedd were properly stirred before it
enters the frame and filter press. The value for filter medium resistance and cake
resistance are 0.3764 x 106 for 5L,0.2583 x 106 for 50 L, 0.2411 x 106 for 100L.For cake
resistance 0.731 x 106 for 5L,3.118 x 106 for 50L, and 2.93 x 106 respectively.

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3.0 RESULT / DATA

Table 1
Weight position of calcium carbonate in 3 %
slurry
Weight wet cake

Tray 1 :100 g
Tray 2 :180 g
Tray 3 : 290 g

Weight dry cake

Tray 1 :70 g
Tray 2 :130 g
Tray 3 : 240 g

Weight ratio wet cake to dry cake

Tray 1 :1.43

(ms/mc)

Tray 2 :1.38
Tray 3 :1.21

Viscosity of filtrate ()

Tray 1 :0.80 Pa.s

Tray 2 :1.12 Pa.s
Tray 3 :1.20 Pa.s

Density of filtrate ()

Tray 1 :1.0067 g/cm3

Tray 2 :1.0146 g/cm3
Tray 3 :1.012 g/cm3

Density calcium carbonate ()

2.93 g/cm3

Total active filter area

47 cm x 470 cm

Pressure drop

10psi

Total filtration time

1047 seconds

Total volume filtrate

100L

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FILTARE VOLUME,V(L)

TIME, (s)

TIME/VOLUME, (s/V)

0.49

0.098

10

88.8

8.88

15

144

9.6

20

201.6

10.08

25

255.6

10.224

30

309.6

10.32

35

366

10.46

40

421.8

10.55

45

452.4

10.05

50

510

10.2

55

562.8

10.23

60

624

10.4

65

679.2

10.45

70

734.4

10.49

75

796.2

10.62

80

853.8

10.67

85

909

10.69

90

964.8

10.72

95

995.4

10.48

100

1047

10.47

Table 2

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Figure 1 (t/V) versus filtrate volume (V)

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From graph
Y = 0.0588x +6.3761
Formula for medium resistance (Rm)
Rm = A(P)
q0()
For tray 1
Rm = (0.658m2)(68947Pa)
(6.3761)(0.8Pa.s)
= 0.3764 x 106
For tray 2
Rm = (0.658m2)(68947Pa)
(6.3761)(1.12Pa.s)
= 0.2583 x 106
For tray 3
Rm = (0.658m2)(68947Pa)
(6.3761)(1.20Pa.s)
= 0.2411 x 106
Table 3 Medium resistance (Rm ) of each tray
Tray 1
Medium resistance
(Rm)

0.3764 x 106

Tray 2
0.2583 x 106

Tray 3
0.2411 x 106

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Formula for cake resistance ()

= KC(A2)(P)
(c)
For tray 1
= (0.1176)(0.0658m2)(68947Pa)
(0.80)(6 x 10-3)
= 0.731 x 106
For tray 2
= (0.1176)(0.0658m2)(68947Pa)
(1.12)(1 x 10-3)
= 3.118 x 106
For tray 3
= (0.1176)(0.0658m2)(68947Pa)
(1.20)(1 x 10-3)
= 2.93 x 106
Table 4 Cake resistance ( ) of each tray

Cake resistance ()

Tray 1

Tray 2

Tray 3

0.731 x 106

3.118 x 106

2.93 x 106

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4.0 DISCUSSION
According to McCabe et al., filter press is a discontinuous pressure filter contains
a set of plates designed to provide a series of chambers or compartments in which solids
may collect. The filter presses operate under pressure using the process of cake filtration.
This experiment has been conducted using this equipment and preparations are made in
order to conduct the experiment.
The main objective is to determine the operational of the filtration of calcium
carbonate slurry. The weight of fraction calcium carbonate in slurry is about 3 wt%. This
involves sending slurry through the press, which is equipped with filter cloths. The cloths
pick up the particles in the slurry and allow the solvent (water) to pass through. As more
slurry moves through the press, the cake builds up and assists the filtration process (Ng
Peng Sang, 2009). The filtrate samples were taken at differences volume and time
recorded (5 liters, 50 liters and 100 liters). Then, the sample had undergone the viscosity
and density tests which is resulted as in Table 1 and Table 2. From the result, the average
viscosities () of the filtrates are about 1.04 Pa.s and the density () is averagely 1.0111
g/cm3. The result shown that the filtrate liquids are contains no or too little of the solids
amount, which is remain at the filter media as filtered cake because the calcium carbonate
is suspended solid in the mixture.
Table 1 shows the values of the different density and viscosity of the different
volume which are V=5L, V=50L and V=100L. The relation of the density and viscosity
of the filtrate is proportional. For the first 5L, the value was the highest because of the
cake and filter medium resistance was at in initial stage, which is the lowest. This is also
caused by the pressure is at its highest since there was still less resistance in during the
first 5L. Then, at V=50L the value of density and viscosity decreases compared to value
of the first 5L. This is because the cake resistance was starting to build up and less
particle can get through as the filter filtrate more calcium carbonate compared to the first
5L. At the final volume, V=100L, the viscosity had remained constant because of the
cake resistance had remained constant. The density still decrease, this may not be correct
as it is also have to remain constant as density V=50L. This may be caused by
experimental error where air is trapped inside the density meter which cause density

P a g e |8

value is less than it is supposed to be.

The weight of cake both dry cake and wet cake was different for every tray. The
Tray 1 has the lowest weight wet cake which is 100g but Tray 1 should be the highest
weight wet cake because it is the first tray that was in contact with the filtrate. The cake
has to build up at Tray 1 that causes it to have the highest weight. The third tray has
higher weight which is 290g compare to Tray 2 which is 180g because of Tray 3 has
smaller holes for its filter than Tray2. The different of weight of wet cake and dry cake is
because of the weight of moisture (water) content in wet cake.
With some filter cakes, the specific resistance varies with the pressure drop
across. This is because the cake becomes denser under the higher pressure and so
provides fewer and smaller passages for flow due to compressibility of the cake. The
pressure drop of this experiment was constant at 10 psi. Filter cake build up on the
upstream side of the cloth which is the side away from the plate. In the early stages of the
filtration cycle, the pressure drop across the cloth is small and filtrations proceeds at more
or less a constant rate. As the cake increase, the process becomes more constant-pressure.
Calcium carbonate is directly affected by the pressure drop because of the size of its
particle.
A plot of Time/Volume of filtrate (in s/L) versus Volume of filtrate (in L) should give
a straight line with a slope of Kc/2, which will allow the calculation of the specific cake
resistance, . Also, the intercept will be 1/q0, which will allow the calculation of filter
medium resistance, Rm. As refer to the Figure 1 the t/V increase at initial 5L and constant
until 100L over the volume of filtrate fluid, which give the slope of constant in equation
for half of constant rate filtration value (Kc/2) is 0.0588 s/litre2 and intercept of one over
volumetric flow rate at start of filtration (1/q0) at 6.3761 s/litre. This phenomenon
occurred because of the slurry concentration is too thin which calcium carbonate weight
fraction in slurry about 3 wt% that given rapid filtration time of the slurry through the
filter medium. As in the Table 1, since the viscosity of the filtrate for Tray 1, Tray 2 and
Tray 3 are 0.8 Pa.s, 1.12 Pa.s and 1.20 Pa.s, respectively. The calculation of filter medium
resistance, Rm for Tray 1, Tray 2 and Tray 3 are 0.3764 x 106, 0.2583 x 106 and 0.2411 x
106, respectively as in Table 3 and the calculation of the specific cake resistance, for
Tray 1, Tray 2 and Tray 3 are 0.731 x 106, 3.118 x 106 and 2.93 x 106, respectively as in

P a g e |9

Table 4.
From the graph, at t=0.49 second, the t/V is 0.098 s/L at the first 5L but it should be
the highest because there were less cake resistance during the first 5 liters as the cake
resistance had just started to build up. A filter cake is formed by the substances that are
retained on a filter. The filter cake grows in the course of filtration, becomes thicker as
particulate matter is being retained. With increasing layer thickness the flow resistance of
the filter cake increases. From V=5L until V=50L the resistance of the filter cake
resistance was starting to increase, that causes the graph to descend. As time volume
increase, the filter cake resistance is increasing until the cake was fully stuffed at the
trays. From V=70L to V=100L the graph become linear, this proof that the cake resistance
is at its maximum and cannot build up anymore. The filter medium resistance changed
only when the pressure drop changed. Cake resistance is based on the volume of filtrate
stuck in the filter.

P a g e | 10

5.0 CONCLUSIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

Filter press is a discontinuous pressure filter contains a set of plates designed to
provide a series of chambers or compartments in which solids may collect. The filter
presses operate under pressure using the process of cake filtration. The filtrate samples
were taken at differences volume and time recorded (5 litres, 50 litres and 100 litres).
Then, the sample had undergone the viscosity and density tests. The result shown that the
filtrate liquids are contains no or too little of the solids amount, which is remain at the
filter media as filtered cake because the calcium carbonate is suspended solid in the
mixture.
The relation of the density and viscosity of the filtrate is proportional. For the first
5L, the value was the highest because of the cake and filter medium resistance was at in
initial stage, which is the lowest. This is also caused by the pressure is at its highest since
there was still less resistance in during the first 5L. Then, at V=50L the value of density
and viscosity decreases compared to value of the first 5L. This is because the cake
resistance was starting to build up and less particle can get through as the filter filtrate
more calcium carbonate compared to the first 5L. At the final volume, V=100L, the
viscosity had remained constant because of the cake resistance had remained constant.
The density still decrease, this may not be correct as it is also have to remain constant as
density V=50L. This may be caused by experimental error where air is trapped inside the
density meter which cause density value is less than it is supposed to be. The problem
occurred throughout the experiment is the filter that was used was old, so the filtration
process cant be done correctly. Besides that, the surface of the plate shifters is too rough
to move.
These are the solution for the problems. The equipment delivered and placed in
storage shall be stored with protection from the weather, excessive humidity and
temperature variations, dirt, dust or other contaminants as required by the manufacturer.
An adequate means of lubrication shall be provided for moving parts subject to wear.
Except as otherwise specified, lubrication shall be by grease or oil to move the plates,
allowing the rapid discharge of the solids stuck in between them.

P a g e | 11

6.0 REFERENCES
1. Transport Processes & Separation Process Principles, Christie John Geankoplis,
Pearson Education Limited (Fourth Edition), 2014.
2. Plate and Frame Filter Press, Ranesh Kumar, Handbook of Nonwoven Filter
Media, 1992.
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_press

7.0 APPENDICES
From graph
Y = 0.0588x +6.3761
Formula for medium resistance (Rm)
Rm = A(P)
q0()

P a g e | 12

For tray 1
Rm = (0.658m2)(68947Pa)
(6.3761)(0.8Pa.s)
= 0.3764 x 106
For tray 2
Rm = (0.658m2)(68947Pa)
(6.3761)(1.12Pa.s)
= 0.2583 x 106
For tray 3
Rm = (0.658m2)(68947Pa)
(6.3761)(1.20Pa.s)
= 0.2411 x 106
Table 3 Medium resistance (Rm ) of each tray
Tray 1
Medium resistance
(Rm)

0.3764 x 106

Tray 2
0.2583 x 106

Tray 3
0.2411 x 106

P a g e | 13

Formula for cake resistance ()

= KC(A2)(P)
(c)
For tray 1
= (0.1176)(0.0658m2)(68947Pa)
(0.80)(6 x 10-3)
= 0.731 x 106
For tray 2
= (0.1176)(0.0658m2)(68947Pa)
(1.12)(1 x 10-3)
= 3.118 x 106
For tray 3
= (0.1176)(0.0658m2)(68947Pa)
(1.20)(1 x 10-3)
= 2.93 x 106
Table 4 Cake resistance ( ) of each tray

Cake resistance ()

Tray 1

Tray 2

Tray 3

0.731 x 106

3.118 x 106

2.93 x 106