Chemical Oceanography

Filtration to separate particulate and dissolved matter in Chemical Oceanography.

13 de Junio del 2018
Acuña Merchán Belén Stephanie, Cárdenas Condoy Jefferson Wladimir, Rivas
Cáceres Sully Edita, Sarmiento Tapia Johara Elvira.
Facultad de Ingeniería Marítima, Ciencias Biológicas, Oceánicas y Recursos Naturales (FIMCBOR)
Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL)
Guayaquil – Ecuador
belstacu@espol.edu.ec, jwcarden@espol.edu.ec, serivas@espol.edu.ec, johelsar@espol.edu.ec

FILTRATION TO SEPARATE PARTICULATE AND DISSOLVED MATTER

What is the filtration? Filtration is a solid-
fluid separation operation based on the
retention of particles of a size greater than
a value given by a filter mesh. (López,
1984).
-Filtering is the process of separating solid
particles from a liquid using a porous
material called a filter. The technique
consists of pouring the solid-liquid
mixture that is to be treated on a filter that
allows the passage of the liquid but that
retains the solid particles.
It is used both to take advantage of the
solid present in the suspension to be
filtered and to reduce the turbidity of a
liquid or to eliminate particles suspended
in a gas.
The filtering processes can be classified
according to different criteria, we mention
the following:
1. Discontinuous, continuous, almost
continuous operating mode:
Dynamic filtration and static filtration
(normal). In case of dynamic filtration,
mechanisms are activated during the
filtration process that help reduce the
accumulation of a filter cake. For example,
the most common dynamic filtration
process is cross-flow filtration.
During a dynamic filtration the collected
solids on the filter media are continuously
removed, mostly with a tangential flow to
the filter medium (cross-flow filtration).
Cross-flow filtration is a standard
operation with membranes as a filter
medium.
2. Application:
For example, water filtration, beer
filtration.
3. Location of particle retention:
The particles can be separated on the
external surface of the filter media (surface
filtration, cake filtration) or inside the
filtration medium, for example, depth
filtration, deep bed filtration, that where
solid particles are retained in a deep filter
layer. This takes place for example in sand
filters for clarification of drinking water,
which retain even colloidal particles. The
typical effect of deep bed filtration is
adhesion of solids to the grains of the filter
layer. Only rather big particles are retained
by the screening effect. When the filter bed
has been saturated with solids, the solids
concentration in the filtrate leaving the bed
progressively approaches that of the
incoming suspension.
4. Generation of the pressure difference:
Pressure filtration, vacuum filtration,
gravity filtration, centrifugal filtration.
This last filtration process is one of the
most important, and we will mention the
four types of filtration that this process
includes.
4.1 Pressure filtration: typically
requires a pump for delivering the
suspension to the filter.
4.2 Vacuum filtration: requires a
vacuum pump. Suction filtration is a
chemistry laboratory technique which
allows for a greater rate of filtration.
Whereas in normal filtration gravity
provides the force which draws the
liquid through the filter paper, in
suction filtration a pressure gradient
performs this function.
4.3 Gravity filtration: this process
allows the liquid to flow through the
filter medium only by gravity. This is
the most common method of filtration
and is used to remove an insoluble solid
material from a solution. The solid
could be the required product or an
impurity or an additive such as a drying
agent.
4.4 Centrifugal filtration: is done in
perforated centrifuge rotors
(Centrifuges filtering).
There are other types of filtration, such as:
Tangential filtration, which is a continuous
process with the minimum deposit of
solids, in addition there is a greater
contribution of energy (tangential
displacement and gradient of P).
There are filtration systems that can
eliminate most protozoa, bacteria and
viruses (if coagulation is used). Usually,
bag and cartridge filters do not eliminate
viruses and very few bacteria. What are
these filtration systems and how do they
work?
Filtration Systems
Conventional filtration system: It is
elaborated in several stages, briefly; first,
a chemical coagulant such as iron or
aluminum salts is added to the source
water. Then, the mixture is stirred to
induce the binding of the small particles in
suspension to form larger lumps or "flocs"
easier to remove. These coagulated
masses, or "flocs," are allowed to settle out
of the water, so that they carry away many
contaminants. Upon completion of these
processes, the water is passed through
filters so that the remaining particles
adhere themselves to the filter material.
Direct filtration system: This is similar to
conventional filtration, except that after
adding the coagulant, and after shaking the
mixture, there is no separate phase for
sedimentation. Instead, the particles in
suspension are destabilized by the
coagulant and thus adhere more easily to
the filter material when the water is
subsequently filtered.
Slow sand filtration system: These systems
do not have a coagulation phase and,
usually, they do not have a sedimentation
step either. The slow and descending
passage of water is induced through a bed
of sand 0.6 to 1.2 meters deep. A
biologically active layer is formed along
the upper surface of the sand bed, so that it
traps or collects small particles and
degrades some organic pollutants.
Biological sand filtration system:
(Biosand) is a filtration system at the point
of use analogous to slow sand filtration,
but its effectiveness is much less
established than the latter.
Filtration system with diatomaceous
earth: this system uses as filter material
the fossilized shells of tiny marine
organisms through which water is passed
without treatment. The earth physically
filters particulate contaminants from
water.
Cartridge and bag filtration systems:
simple, easy-to-use systems that use a
woven bag or rolled filament cartridge or a
shirred filter to physically filter microbes
and sediment from the source water.
Ceramic filtration systems: they are
mainly used in point-of-use applications.
In developing countries, these are
manufactured locally, sometimes in self-
financed microenterprises.
Most filtration systems clean the system
using "backwash". This produces
wastewater that should be handled
correctly.
Types of filters
What is a filter? We call filter a porous
matter, such as fieltro, paper, sponge, coal,
stone, etc., or mass of sand or small stones,
through which a liquid is passed to clarify
the materials it carries in suspension.
There are different types of filters, then we
will mention the most used.
Paper filters: It is round in shape and it is
inserted in a funnel, with the purpose of
filtering insoluble impurities and allowing
the solution to pass through its pores. They
are also used for the exhibition of samples
on the. They exist in different sizes and
proportions. First, make sure you use the
appropriate size filter paper. Second,
folding the filter paper. There are two
ways to fold filter papers, the
"conventional" method and "fluted".
Illustration 1. Make a paper filter
The steps to the filter paper are shown.
First, fold in half; open and fold in half at
90 degrees to the first fold, Next align
adjacent folds and make new folds
bisecting the previous folds until a fan-like
arrangement is obtained Pleat into a fan by
folding each segment in the opposite
direction to its neighbors, in accordion-
like fashion When opened out the
complete fan-like fluted paper results.
Fluting the filter paper maximizes the rate
at which the liquid may flow through the
filter paper by increasing the surface area
and by allowing air to enter the flask along
its sides to allow rapid pressure
equalization.
 sediment filter can only be filtered or
reduced once or only the sediments, and
why it cannot filter or reduce the amount
of chemicals or heavy metals in the water,
nor is it apt to treat the taste and smell of
water.

Illustration 2. Using paper filter

Membrane filters: Its differential feature is

that all the solid remains retained on the
surface of the filter. Its use is very varied Illustration 4. An example of polypropylene filter
and includes modified forms of cellulose
Waltman GF filters: This type of filter
(acetates and nitrates). Recall that paper is
offers fine particle retention and high flow
formed by a network of cellulose fibers,
rate, as well as good loading capacity.
lignin and other components that generate
Recommended for gravimetric
a structure of pores and irregular internal.
determination of airborne particulates,
When using a paper element, it is protected
stack sampling and absorption methods of
inside.
air pollution monitoring.

Illustration 3. Membrane filters Illustration 5. Waltman GF filers.

Polypropylene filters: The polypropylene

serves to stop the solid material that is
transported by a stream of water and is
deposited as a layer of solid particles at the
bottom of the water. For this purpose is the
polypropylene filter, which acts as a screen
to filter and eliminate these particles. It is
essential to take into account that a