Introduction to Particle Technology Journal (2016)

Introduction to Particle Technology

journal homepage: http://www.introductiontoparticletechnology.bicol-edu.ph

Gravity Filtration and Vacuum Filtration of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) slurry

Claudine Spark Serranoa
a

BSChE 5 Student of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Bicol University East Campus, Legazpi City

ARTICLE INFO
Keywords:
Vacuum filtration
Gravity filtration

AB S T RAC T
This journal will present the process of undergoing filtration by gravity and
with the use of a vacuum pump. In this experiment, calcium carbonate (CaCO 3) was
used to prepare the slurry that will be filtrated using 5% w/w suspension with water.
This is subjected to gravity filtration and vacuum pump wherein empirical data are
gathered to calculate for certain parameters.

1. Introduction
Filtration is one of the major processes used in
the industry. This is a process of separating suspended
solid matter from liquid by causing the latter to pass
through the pores of some substance, called a filter. The
liquid which has passed though the filter is called a
filtrate.
Separation of solids from liquids is a common
operation that requires empirical data to make
predictions of its performance. These data are usually
obtained from experiments performed on a small scale
laboratory equipment.

filter flask with a side arm adaptor (also known as a

Buchenr flask). Vacuum filtration is typically a fast and
efficient way of filtering.
When using vacuum filtration, it is very
important that the correct size of filter paper be used. It
is also important that the apparatus be clamped since it is
very easily tipped over usually resulting in loss of the
sample.
3. Experimental Procedure
The experiment was done at room temperature
(25C) and atmospheric pressure (1atm at Bicol
University College of Engineering Laboratory.

1.1 Gravity or Simple Filtration

4.1 Preparation of Calcium Carbonate Slurry
This is the most common method of filtration and is
used to remove an insoluble material from a solution.
The solid could be the required product or an impurity or
an additive such as drying agent. A filter is folded
(conventional or fluted) and placed in a filter funnel
which is then supported in a ring stand. The solution to
be filtered is then slowly and carefully poured into the
funnel taking care not to fill the funnel above the edge of
the filter paper.
1.2 Vacuum Filtration
In a vacuum filtration, the solution to be filtered is
drawn through the filter paper by applying a vacuum to a

A suspension of 5% w/w of calcium carbonate

was prepared by mixing 2.5 g CaCO 3 with 500 mL water
in a 500 mL Erlenmeyer flask. The suspension was
mixed thoroughly to maintain homogeneity.

Introduction to Particle Technology Journal (2016)

5. Results and Calculations

Figure 1. (from left to right) Calcium carbonate used,
500 mL water and 500 mL suspension, and 2 500-mL
CaCO3 suspensions.

5.1 Gravity Filtration

4.2 Gravity Filtration

By conducting the exact procedure given for the

gravity filtration, the following data is collected with the
1-minute interval for ten measurements:

An Erlenmeyer flask is placed on a mass balance

and the setup is under a ring stand with funnel. The filter
paper is folded and placed on the funnel. The suspension
is again mixed thoroughly and poured on the funnel
using a stirring rod but not exceeding the height of the
filter paper. The mass of the filtrate is measured at
certain time intervals. Ten (10) measurements were
recorded at 1-minute intervals.
After filtration, the filter cake is then dried at
140C in an oven and weighed afterwards.

Figure 2. (from left to right) The setup for gravity

filtration, pouring of the suspension to the funnel for
filtration, and the filtrate after the process.
4.3 Vacuum Filtration
The same setup from the gravity filtration was
used but there is an addition of a vacuum pump and
stopper. A rubber tubing was inserted at a distillation
flask for the pump and the funnel was inserted with a
rubber stopper. The suspension was again poured to the
funnel and the pump was turned on. Data was gathered
at 1-minute intervals for ten measurements.
The filter cake is again dried and its mass is
measured.

Figure 3. At the right is the setup for vacuum filtration,

and at the left is the undergoing process of filtration.

Table 1. Result for the gravity filtration with 1-minute

interval
Time
Time
Mass
Volume
(min)
(s)
(g)
(m3)
0
0
0
0
1
60
7.23
7.23x10-6
2
120
17.11
1.711x10-5
3
180
27.74
2.774 x10-5
4
240
38.76
3.876 x10-5
5
300
50.07
5.007 x10-5
6
360
61.29
6.129 x10-5
7
420
73.30
7.303 x10-5
8
480
84.79
8.479 x10-5
9
540
96.51
9.651 x10-5
10
600
107.99
0.000108
A graph of v vs dt/dv will produce coefficients if fitted
linearly that corresponds to constants based from the
linearized form of the Ruth equation for the constant
pressure filtration given below:
2
gc (P ) A
dv
=
=r
d C ( V e +V ) f

Table 2. Calculated data for the dv and dt

Time
Volume
dv
(min)
(m3)
0
0
60
7.23x10-6
7.23x10-6
-5
120
1.711x10
9.88 x10-6
-5
180
2.774 x10
1.063x10-5
240
3.876 x10-5
1.112 x10-5
-5
300
5.007 x10
1.121 x10-5
-5
360
6.129 x10
1.122 x10-5
420
7.303 x10-5
1.174 x10-5
-5
480
8.479 x10
1.176 x10-5
-5
540
9.651 x10
1.172 x10-5
600
0.000108
1.148 x10-5

Equation 1

dt
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60
60

The Vn is computed by using the following formula:

Equation 2

Introduction to Particle Technology Journal (2016)

( V n1 +V n )
V n=
2

Table 3. Data for Vn and dt/dv

Vn
dt/dv
0
0
8298755.18
3.615x10-6
7
6071874.49
1.217x10-5
4
5644402.63
2.2425x10-5
4
5395683.45
3.33x10-5
3
5352363.96
4.4465x10-5
1
5347593.58
5.568x10-5
3
6.716x10-5 5110732.538
5102040.81
7.891x10-5
6
9.065x10-5 5119453.925
5226480.83
1.0225x10-5
6
A graph can be obtained from the given data above.

Figure 4. Vn vs. dt/dv for the Gravity Filtration

With the graph from Figure 4, there can be a
sudden drop observed from the first point to the second.
This indicates that there is a large change on filtrate
volume accumulated or collected. This implies an
inconsistency to the pouring or addition of the
suspension to the funnel during the experiment.
Therefore, probing the graph the feasible points to apply
linear regression on the last four points.

Figure 5. Vn vs. dt/dv for the Gravity Filtration with

linear regression on the last four points
The slope and intercept of the graph are as follows:

y=3.11 109 x + 4.88 106

Wherein the slop is

4.88 10

3.11 109 and the y-intercept is

5.2 Vacuum Filtration

By conducting the exact procedure given for the
gravity filtration, the following data is collected with a
certain time interval for 5 measurements:
Table 4. Result for the vacuum filtration
Time
Time
Mass
(min)
(s)
(g)
0
0
0
5.18
311
41
7.12
427
97
9.23
554
168
14.56667
874
204
Table 5. Calculated data for the dv and dt
Time
Volume
dv
(min)
(m3)
0
0
0
311
0.000041
0.000041
427
0.000097
0.000056
554
0.000169
7.5 x10-5
874
0.000204
3.55x10-5
Table 6. Data for Vn and dt/dv
Vn
dt/dv
0
0
0.0000205
7585366
0.000069
2071429

Volume
(m3)
0
0.000041
0.000097
0.000169
0.000204

dt
0
311
116
127
320

Introduction to Particle Technology Journal (2016)

0.0001328
0.0001863

1776224
9014085

2
V
K e

y=

A graph can be obtained from the given data above.

4.88 10 6=

2
Ve
10
6.4309 10

V e =1.5691 103 m3
The value of c can be computed using the equation
below:
Figure 6. Vn vs. dt/dv for the Vacuum Filtration

c=

Mc
V

Equation 3

The slope and intercept of the graph are as follows:

9

Wherein, the mass of the cake is 0.65 g and the volume

of the filtrate is 148 mL.

y=7.92 10 x+ 4.30 10

Wherein the slop is 8x109 and the y-intercept is

4.30x106.
6. Determination of Filtration Constants
6.1 Gravity Filtration

c=

g
( 0.65
1000 )

( 148 x 106 )

c=4.39 kg/m3

The value of K and Ve can be computed using

this equation:

2v 2Ve
= +
v K
K

The equation below is used to get the value of

Equation 3

K=

2 A 2 (P ) g c
C

Equation 5

That can be denoted as y = mx + b.

The slope(m) is 3.11x109 and the y-intercept is
4.88x106.

m=

Solving K,

3.11 x 109 =

To get the value of A,

D2
A=
4

2
K
10

K=6.4309 10

And solving Ve,

2
K

Wherein the diameter of the filter medium is 125 mm

and height of 55. The slurry is assumed to be 1000 kg/m3
in which CaCO3 is almost negligible that cannot affect
the overall density of the solution.

m6
s

A=

125
1000
4

Introduction to Particle Technology Journal (2016)

2

A=0.01227 m

10

K=2.5253 10

The area(A) should be multiplied to because the filter

cake occupied only half of the filter medium. A then is
-3

equal to 6.3159x10 m and

And solving Ve,

would be equal to

2
V
K e

y=

1.439x1010 m/kg.

m6
s

To get the value of Rm the following equation is used:

V c
R m= e
A

Equation 6

4.30 10 6=

2
Ve
10
2.5253 10
4

Calculating,
10

R m=

1.5691 x 10 (4.39)(1.439 x 10 )
6.1359 x 103

Rm=1.6155 x 1010 /m

The value of c was also calculated:

Mc
V

c=

Then the equation below will be used in order to

determine the rf.

rf =

c=

K
2(V e +V )
10

rf =

V e =5.4294 10 m

6 .4309 10
3
2(0+1 .569110 )

r f =2.0492 107

m
s

Equation 3

g
( 0.99
1000 )

( 204 x 106 )

c=4.85 kg/m3
The same value for A will be used to calculate for the
value of

. It would then be equal to 3.1792x1011

m/kg.
Calculating the Rm,

5.4294 x 104 (4.85)(3.1792 x 101 1 )

R m=
6.1359 x 103
6.2 Vacuum Filtration
The value of K and Ve is calculated:

m=

2
K

Rm=1. 3644 x 1011 /m

Then the equation below will be used in order to
determine the rf.

rf =
9

7.92 x 10 =

2
K

K
2(V e +V )

Introduction to Particle Technology Journal (2016)

10

rf =

2.5253 10
4
2(0+5.4294 10 )

r f =2.3256 107

m3
s

7. Conclusion
Comparing the values calculated and gathered
for the gravity and vacuum filtration, it can be observed
that the K is bigger for the vacuum filtration since there
is an application of vacuum pressure or this setup has
higher pressure compared to the other one. The mass of
dry cake deposited per unit volume of filtrate collected is
higher in the vacuum filtration. The value of the average
specific cake resistance has a great difference between
the two since there are different conditions and it is
assumed incompressible. The rate of filtration is also
evidently higher at vacuum filtration.

Given these set of observations, we can

therefore conclude that vacuum filtration has a higher
efficiency compared to gravity filtration but with
obviously higher energy requirement, too.
Acknowledgements
The researcher would like to deeply thank Engr.
Marco Angelo Dejucos, Chemical Engineering
Department Faculty professor, for the learning and
wisdom he shared, and for giving each and every student
the chance to improve themselves further.
References
Organic Laboratory Techniques 3 viewed at 15
September 2016.
Geankoplis, C. Transport Processes and Unit Operations,
3ed