Applying core-shell colloids as a tool for understanding solid/ liquid separation of slurries mainly containing organic materials
Advancing the chemical engineering fundamentals
Filtration - I (T2-11a)
Keywords: Model material, dewatering, core-shell colloids
Sometimes it is not possible to apply the traditional mathematical models when predicting or scaling up the separation process for dewatering of organic material (e.g. activated sludge). A plausible reason for this is, that the traditional mathematical models have been developed and verified on data generated from filtration experiments performed on inorganic model materials (e.g. titanium dioxide). Therefore there is a need for further understanding of the mechanisms taking place during dewatering of organic materials. Designing organic model materials and performing filtration experiments on such might reveal some of the mechanisms taking place in the organic material during filtration. This will open the possibility for further development of the mathematical filtration models to include organic materials.
A new strategy has been applied in order to investigate the filtration behavior of organic materials. The method comprises the synthesis of monodisperse core-shell colloids with a variation in one specific physic- or chemical material property and performance of filtration experiments on these colloids. Three series of core-shell colloids have been synthesized and applied in filtration experiments. The first series have a solid core and varying amount of a water swollen anionic shell, the second series is colloids with a varying diameter of the solid core with a water swollen anionic shell. The final set has a solid core and varying amount of a non-ionic water swollen shell. The filtration experiments were performed on the water swollen core-shell colloids at different filtration pressures. Based on the results from the synthesis, characterization and filtration experiments a conceptional model for the interaction of the water swollen core-shell colloids during filtration has been proposed.
These findings indicate that the method of designing polymeric colloids that targets the effect from one specific physic- or chemical material property on filtration is promising with respect to further development of the filtration theory and should be pursuit further.
Presented Monday 17, 11:33 to 11:52, in session Filtration - I (T2-11a).
