3150502 - Mechanical Operation

Chemical Engineering Department

V.G.E.C

Experiment No. Date:-

VACUUM FILTRATION
Objective:
To find out filter medium resistance for vacuum filter.

Apparatus:
Vacuum pump, beaker, filter paper, conical flask.

Chemicals:
Ca CO3, Water.

Theory:

Vacuum filtration is a technique for separating a solid product from a liquid. The mixture of solid
and liquid is poured through a filter paper in a Buchner funnel. The solid is trapped by the
filter and the liquid is drawn through the funnel into the flask below, by a vacuum.

Vacuum filtration is used primarily to collect a desired solid, for instance, the collection of crystals
in a recrystallization procedure. Vacuum filtration uses a Buchner funnel and a side-arm-flask.
Vacuum filtration is faster than gravity filtration, because the solvent or solution and air is forced
through the filter paper by the application of reduced pressure.

The vacuum filtration is a driving force that generates a negative pressure at the filtrate outlet as a
filter. This filter is divided into two types: intermittent operation and continuous operation. The
intermittently operated vacuum filtration filters various concentrations of the suspension, and the
continuously operated vacuum filtration is suitable for filtering thick suspensions containing more
solid particles.
 3150502 - Mechanical Operation
Chemical Engineering Department
V.G.E.C

 Advantages:
 The units can be designed as effective continuous filters.
 These units are low labor users.
 The filtering surface can be open to the atmospheric & hence, it is easily
accessible for inspection & repair.
 Low maintenance cost.

 Disadvantages:
 We have to maintain a vacuum system.
 These cannot be used with filtrates that will volatile, whether because of a
low normal boiling pressure or high operating temperature.
 These units cannot handle difficulty filterable compressible solids.

 Continuous vacuum filters are inflexible.

Procedure:
 Make slurry by 800 gm of CaCO3 and make 1000 ml by addingwater.
 Take conical flask and attach a graph which is calibrated.
 Start vacuum pump by attaching it with conical flask.
 Measure the vacuum after 30 sec.
 Measure weight of wet cake and dry cake.

Observation:
1. Concentration of slurry =
2. Filtration area =
3. Pressure drop =
4. Weight of wet cake =
5. Weight of dry cake =
 3150502 - Mechanical Operation
Chemical Engineering Department
V.G.E.C

Observation table:

Sr. Time Volume of filtrate t/V

No. (min) (ml) (sec/l)

Calculation:

 Moisture content in wet cake =

 % moisture =
=
 From graph, slope =
Kc/2 Kc = slope*2
=
=

µ=

(a) Filter medium resistance

Rm = (ADP gc*/ µ (1/q0)

=
=
 3150502 - Mechanical Operation
Chemical Engineering Department
V.G.E.C

(b) Cake resistance α = (A2DP gc kc )/(Cµ)

=
Result:
(a) Filter medium resistance =

(b) Cake resistance =

Conclusion:

Quiz:

1. What is Principle of ‘Vacuum filtration’?

2. What is the difference Between Gravity and Vacuum Filtration.
3. What is the purpose of Vacuum filtration ?
4. Which are types of Vacuum filtration ?
5. Write Industrial application of Vacuum filtration.

Marks: Signature: