The objective of this project was to develop a suitable procedure for the design, control and optimisation of the Tubular Filter Press. To this end, the following objectives were defined for this study: • To extend or improve upon the constant pressure compressible cake filtration model, predictive solution procedure, and standard laboratory characterisation techniques requlred to obtain the empirical model parameters, presented in Rencken (1992). A new generalised area contact constant pressure compressible cake filtration model was developed for both the internal cylindrical and planar filtration geometries. The model utilises a heuristically developed area contact function which relates the interparticle contact area to the solids compressive pressure within the cake. If the area contact is zero, the model reduces to the conventional point contact model as presented in Rencken ( 1992). The sludge used in this investigation was found to exhibit a negligible degree of area contact. A new pseudo variable pressure solution procedure was developed, that is an extension of the constant pressure solution procedure, to account for the initial variable pressure stage of the Tubular Filter Press operation. The pseudo variable pressure solution procedure was found to account accurately for the initial filtration behaviour observed during the pressurisation period of the Tubular Filter Press. However for the normal operation of the Tubular Filter Press. the difference between the output of the pseudo variable pressure and constant pressure solution procedures, was found to be insignificant. Wall friction in compression-permeability (C-P) cell tests was identified as a main source of error. The significance of wall friction was investigated using a specially constructed C-P cell. that enabled the transmitted pressure through the cake sample to be measured. The accuracy of the characterisation which had been corrected for the effects of wall friction, was found to improve the prediction of the filtration behaviour of the sludge significantly. The direct shear test was identified and documented as a feasible experimental procedure to determine the coefficient of earth pressure at rest. The coefficient of earth pressure is unique to the non-planar filtration geometries. The coefficient of earth pressure at rest was determined for the sludge used in this investigation. • To incorporate the constant pressure compressible cake filtration model and the associated predictive solution procedures into a user-friendly computer programme that will facilitate the design and optimisation of full-scale plants. The predictive solution procedures were incorporated into the Windows 95 computer programme, COMPRESS, that can be used for any constant pressure compressible cake dead-end filtration application where the filtration geometry is planar or internal cylindrical. A control and optimisation strategy for the continuous operation of the Tubular Filter Press has been proposed. To develop a regressive solution procedure, and incorporate this procedure into a user-friendly computer progranune, that will enable the empirical model parameters. normally obtained from standard laboratory-scale tests, to be obtained from actual filtration data. A regressive solution procedure was developed that utilises a direct search optimisation technique that is an extension of the COMPLEX method. The regressive solution procedure was incorporated into the Windows 95 program, REGRESS. The program utilises filtration data from any dead-end constant pressure filtration application of either planar or internal cylindrical geometry. REGRESS provides an effective means for determining the true physical or plant specific filtration characteristics of the sludge. The regressive solution procedure also enables the parameters specific to the new area contact model to be determined. The sludge characterisation obtained from regressing on filtration data was found to be a significant improvement in predicting the filtration behaviour, than the characterisation obtained from the standard non-filtration laboratory-scale methods, even after the C-P cell data had been corrected for the effects of wall friction. The programs COMPRESS and REGRESS should greatly assist in the design. control and optimisation of the Tubular Filter Press process. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2000.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Engineering, 2016 / The aim of this research was to reduce heavy metal and sulfate content of acid mine drainage (AMD) through the methods of passive filtration by combining permeable concrete and organic materials. This was to achieve a low cost, yet effective temporary treatment method for rural/poor communities who are affected by AMD. The acids are filtered through layers of alternating pervious concrete and biological composting layers. The concrete layers target removal of heavy metals such as iron, manganese, potassium, and magnesium, etc. through precipitation as well as reduce sulfate content to a small degree along with total dissolved solids. The concrete layers also aid in raising the pH of the AMD to more acceptable levels. The biological layers achieve sulfate remediation through the metabolism of sulfatereducing- bacteria (SRB). This process however required time and the organic layers were thus thicker and less permeable than the concrete layers in order to allow seepage to take place at a reduced rate. A wide variation of composting layers were tested, including cow manure, chicken manure, sawdust, straw, zoo manure, and leaf compost to find an optimum mix of materials which allows for the greatest sulfate reduction through sulfate reducing bacteria in the shortest possible time. Short as well as Long-term testing of rigs was undertaken to establish effectiveness, limitations and lifespan of the filtration systems. AMD from a mine in the Mpumalanga coal fields with exceptionally high sulfate content was used to test effectiveness of the organic materials over a short period of time. With long term testing conducted with a synthetic AMD, due to limited supply from the mine. The short term testing yielded removal of sulfates in the order of 56% when using kraal manure as the biological reagent mixed with sawdust for added organic carbon. The mix percentages by volume were 80%Sawdust to 20%manure and this setup was able to achieve the 56% removal of sulfates within 14 days. The filter also successfully raised the pH to 8 while removing a significant portion of heavy metals. The long term tests showed complete (100%) remediation of sulfates after a period of approximately sixty days. The tests are continuing to determine their finite lifespan and limitations. The results show promise for using the technology as a low cost, temporary measure to protect locally impacted groundwater, especially for isolated and/or rural communities while a permanent long term solution is sought.

Polluted stormwater, if not treated, can compromise water quality throughout our hydrologic cycle, adversely affecting aquatic ecosystems. Common stormwater pollutants, copper and zinc, have been identified as primary toxicants in multiple freshwater and marine environments. For small-scale generators, stormwater management can be cumbersome and implementation of common BMPs impractical thus catch basins are popular though not the most environmentally conscious and sustainable option. This study aims to characterize the potential of a mobile media filter operation for the treatment and on-site recycling of catch basin stormwater. The removal capacities of various commercially available filter media (e.g. a common perlite; Earthlite™, a medium largely composed of biochars; and Filter33™, a proprietary porous medium) were measured using binary injection solutions modeled after local catch basin stormwater characteristics. The results of filtration experiments, rapid small-scale column tests (RSSCTs), indicate that the transport of metals in Perlite is primarily impacted by nonspecific sorption whereas in Earthlite™ and Filter33™ both nonspecific and specific sorption are present. For all media and experimentation, there was a consistent preferential uptake of copper such that copper displayed delayed arrival and/or greater removal than zinc. Moreover, the observed snow plow effects and concentration plateaus in Earthlite™ and Filter33™ RSSCTs suggest rate limited ion exchange and specific sorption in addition to ion competition. Earthlite™ exhibited an approach velocity dependent removal efficiency in the RSSCTs and pseudo second order uptake behavior for zinc in kinetic batch experiments. At the lab scale equivalent of the proposed field scale flow rate, Filter33™ displayed the greatest average zinc removal of 8.6 mg/g. In all, this research indicates that test parameters (i.e. pH, competitive ions solutions, empty bed contact time, flow rate) based on the natural environment and field scale operation can greatly impact removal efficiency in filter media.

The problem of filtration of liquid aerosols by both wettable and nonwettable filters has been extensively studied and the results of the theoretical calculations together with the experimental results are presented. More realistic models of filtration by both wettable and nonwettable filters have been developed and verified experimentally. A new instrument has been developed, and used in the experiments, for the measurement of the absolute concentration of aerosols in the gas stream. This instrument is based on the measurement of the initial vapour content of the gas stream simultaneously with the measurement of the vapour content after the total evaporation of aerosol. The concentration of the aerosol is calculated as the difference between these two values. The instrument was developed to provide fast and accurate measurements of aerosol concentration. The main advantages of the instrument are: high accuracy, simplicity of measurement, possibility of use for a wide range of substances, perfect suitability of operation for automatic monitoring technologies, etc. All rights for this instrument have been reserved and the fully automatic version will be available in the near future. It was found that the efficiency of filtration of aerosol on the wettable filter depends on the thickness of the liquid film on the fibre. This parameter was taken into account in the development of a theoretical model of filtration on wettable fibrous filters. The particle breakthrough problem has been solved by the optimisation of the aspect ratio (the ratio of the height by width) of the wettable filter. On this basis, industrial devices have been developed, patented, and implemented in industry. These devices provide a stable operating efficiency of higher than 99%. It was found experimentally that the efficiency of filtration of aerosol on the nonwettable filter depends on the diameter of the drop suspended on the filter, and on the area of the filter blocked by drops: this influences the velocity of filtration. All these parameters were taken into account in the development of a theoretical model of filtration on nonwettable fibrous filters. On the basis of this model, satisfactorily verified by the experiments, an industrial device has been developed. The harnessing of atomisers makes it possible to maintain the efficiency of filtration higher than 99%, even with a relatively high velocity of filtration of 2.7m/s. The new technology is tackling the problem of handling huge amounts of exhaust gases and this is particularly important for cramped installations when the space available for the air pollution control technology is quite limited. A highly efficient gas cleaning technology has been developed. This technology is based on combining two stages (wet scrubber and filter) of currently utilised air pollution control devices by submerging the fibrous filter into the liquid on the plate. The new device provides an effective division of the main gas stream into ultra-small bubbles which increase the contact area between the gas and liquid phases. It was estimated theoretically and verified experimentally that the efficiency of the proposed 'combined' technology, is 45% higher than the efficiency of the two stages technology. The technology has been patented and will be offered for industrial implementation in the near future.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are porous networks of metal-centers connect by organic ligands, which have potential for an array of applications including gas separations and storage, drug delivery, and molecular sensing. A multitude of structures are reported with specific pore geometries and functionalities, but MOFs are not currently implemented in consumer or industrial applications. Two major setbacks have hindered their transition to the applied level. 1) Many MOFs are not stable in the presence of ambient moisture. 2) Most syntheses are costly and take place under batch-style solvothermal conditions. This thesis addresses both of these setbacks and examines the performance potential of water-stable MOFs for selective gas adsorption. A representative set of MOFs are exposed to water, and structural effects are monitored from a before and after comparison to identify properties of water-stable MOFs. A novel continuous-flow MOF synthesis process is reported along with preliminary optimization experiments, which yield direct suggestions for future process improvements. Batch-style scale-up experiments are also conducted for three other MOFs, which provide insight into synthesis phenomena. Application specific results are reported for toxic chemical filtration and carbon dioxide removal from flue gas using MOFs. The thesis concludes by summarizing the experimental findings, discussing the application potential of specific MOFs, and recommending topics for future research projects. Pitfalls observed during this research are also directly discussed along with potential solutions.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Institute of Paper Chemistry, 1951. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-119).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Institute of Paper Chemistry, 1960. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 164-165).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Institute of Paper Chemistry, 1943. / Bibliography: leaf 79.

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 121 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 117-119).

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