Solid/Liquid Separation Laboratory

NFM Separations Laboratory provides the service of performing vacuum and pressure solid-liquid separation studies, that then can support NFM Pilot Scale Equipment Test Work, and finally support the Customer’s operating filters. Industry standard cake filtration procedures are followed, to simulate commercial conditions, for continuous and batch processes.

For vacuum, NFM utilizes the Industry Standard 0.1 ft² Filter Leaf. For pressure, NFM utilizes an Industry Standard 0.1 ft² with 0.028 ft³ Laboratory Filter Press.

Each Customer Test shall utilize a uniquely written lab procedure – to be approved by the Customer, to make sure the test objectives are met. The lab procedure shall be designed to develop a mass balance with specific operating setpoints, prioritizing process targets such as Cake Moisture, Cake Purity, Filtrate Turbidity, and Production Rate. In filtration, there are often trade-offs that must be understood. For example, the study of Cake Resistance Values at different Cake Thicknesses can yield data supporting a particular machine design and operating setpoints, for example, with a Rotary Drum Vacuum Filter, balancing Slurry Feed Rate, Vat Level, Drum Submergence Percentage, and Drum Speed.

The NFM Technical Report, to be presented after the completion of the lab or pilot study, shall typically present the following information:

Typical Mother Liquor Filtrate Quality

Typical Filter Cake Quality