ADAMSON UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

UNIT OPERATIONS LAB 2

Experiment No. 2
BATCH SEDIMENTATION

Submitted by:
Cruz, Nichole
Gratuito, Rose Jean M.
Lingao, Nikko Vincent D.
Martin, Jeanell P.
Penalba, Benjie T.
Turija, Joanne Paula H.
Submitted to:
Engr. Rugi Vicente Rubi

I. Introduction
Sedimentation is a separation process used for mixtures of solid-liquid or liquid-liquid in
various industries. Although widely known as water treatment, it is the separation of a dilute
slurry or suspension by gravity settling into a clear fluid and slurry of higher solid content by
definition. This process relies on three forces acting on the particles moving through fluids,

namely, buoyant force, gravitational force and drag force. (Geankoplis, 1993) Basically, either
the free liquid or the particles are the desired product and the separation would be resulting to
liquids essentially particle free for solid-liquid mixtures.
In this experiment, the apparatus that will be used is consisting of five transparent glass
sedimentation columns that have graduation mounted on a rigid frame suitable for bench
mounting. The rare panel is of translucent white plastic and back lighting is provided to enhance
observation of settling sediments in the columns. The settlement depth can be measured and a
stop watch is needed to determine the settling time. Several zones will be established. The zone
of settled solids that predominantly includes heavier faster-settling particles is the Zone D. The
region of variable size distribution and non-uniform concentration is the Zone C while Zone B is
a uniform concentration zone. At the top of region B is a boundary above which is clear liquid
called region A.
The rate of settling or sedimentation rate of solid particles in the columns can be
expressed in terms of height z. in free settling zone, the terminal velocity, Ut, of a is by
U t =( Zo Z c ) / c
Where:
Zo= initial height of the slurry
Zc= height of the interface between the clear liquid and slurry when zone B
disappears
c= time when the solid particles reach Zc from Zo
The rate of settling in the transition region can be neglected while in the hindered settling
zone C, the rate of settling can be observed to follow approximately the equation
U t =( d z /d )=k ( ZZ + )
Where:
Z= height of the interface between the clear liquid and the slurry at any time
Z= final/ultimate height of the sludge
k= constant for a given suspension
Rearranging and integrating, the equation becomes
k ( c )=ln [ ( Z c Z ) / ( ZZ ) ]
II. Methodology
The experiment involves the analysis of the effect of varying the height of the slurry and
their concentrations on the sedimentation properties. To determine the effect of initial slurry
height on sedimentation properties, 1 kg of Kaolin in a Ro Tap sieve shaker was screened
approximately to obtain minus 100 mesh particle size and plus 60 mesh particle size Kaolin.
After 5 cylinders in the sedimentation study apparatus was labeled. Five mixtures was prepared
namely Mixture A with 900 ml of 5% wt Kaolin (minus 100 mesh particle size), Mixture B with
900 ml of 5% wt Kaolin (plus 60 mesh particle size), Mixture C with 900 ml of 10% wt Kaolin
(plus 60 mesh particle size), Mixture D with 600 ml of 5% wt Kaolin (plus 60 mesh particle size)
and Mixture E with 600 ml of 5% wt Kaolin (minus 100 mesh particle size). The mixtures were
poured into the cylinders in the sedimentation studies apparatus. The initial heights, temperature
of the mixture and inside diameter of the cylinders were recorded. After monitoring the height of
the clear liquid, slurry and the sediments for every two minutes of the five mixtures, the mixtures

were stand overnight for the final height is determined.

III. Results
APPENDIX A: Experimental Data
Cylinder A
Initial height of Slurry
Volume of the Slurry
Concentration of the Slurry
Particle Size of CaCO3
Inside Diameter of Cylinder
Temperature of the Slurry
Final Height of the Slurry
Time
(minut
es)

Height of the Interface

between Clear Liquid &
Slurry/Sediments (cm)

0
2
4
6
8

40
15
12
10
8

Cylinder B
Initial height of Slurry
Volume of the Slurry
Concentration of the Slurry
Particle Size of CaCO3
Inside Diameter of Cylinder
Temperature of the Slurry

420
cm
900
ml
5.00
%
-100 mesh
21.65 mm
29
C
cm
Height
of
Sedime
nts (cm)
380
360
320
292
236

420
cm
900
ml
5
%
60
mesh
49.45 mm
29
C

Final Height of the Slurry

Time
(minut
es)

Height of the Interface

between Clear Liquid &
Slurry/Sediments (cm)

0
2
4
6
8

25
10
7
6
4

Cylinder C
Initial height of Slurry
Volume of the Slurry
Concentration of the Slurry
Particle Size of CaCO3
Inside Diameter of Cylinder
Temperature of the Slurry
Final Height of the Slurry
Time
(minut
es)

Height of the Interface

between Clear Liquid &
Slurry/Sediments (cm)

0
2
4
6
8

30
12
8
7
5

Cylinder D
Initial height of Slurry
Volume of the Slurry
Concentration of the Slurry
Particle Size of CaCO3
Inside Diameter of Cylinder
Temperature of the Slurry
Final Height of the Slurry

cm
Height
of
Sedime
nts
(cm)
395
372
335
298
232

420
cm
900
ml
10
%
60
mesh
49.71 mm
29
C
cm
Height
of
Sedime
nts (cm)
390
378
365
348
323

270
cm
600
ml
5
%
60
mesh
23.73 mm
29
C
cm

Time
(minut
es)

Height of the Interface

between Clear Liquid &
Slurry/Sediments (cm)

0
2
4
6
8

50
20
15
12
10

Cylinder E
Initial height of Slurry
Volume of the Slurry
Concentration of the Slurry
Particle Size of CaCO3
Inside Diameter of Cylinder
Temperature of the Slurry
Final Height of the Slurry
Time
(minut
es)

Height of the Interface

between Clear Liquid &
Slurry/Sediments (cm)

0
2
4
6
8

55
25
17
14
12

Graphs:
Mixture A

Height
of
Sedime
nts
(cm)
190
170
140
110
70

278
cm
600
ml
5
%
-100 mesh
23.63 mm
29
C
cm
Height
of
Sedime
nts (cm)
188
160
138
84
54

Effects of Initial Concentration

30
25
20
Mixture B 5% kaolin 15
height of interface (cm)
10

Mixture C 5% kaolin

5
0
0

time (minutes)

Figure 1: Effect of Initial Concentration of Mixture A with varying time

Mixture B

Effects of Initial Suspension Height

50
40
30
Mixture B 900ml
height of interface (cm)

Mixture D 600ml
20
10
0
0

time (minutes)

Figure 2: Effect of Initial Suspension of Mixture B with varying time

Mixture C

Effects of Initial Suspension Height

50
45
40
35
30
Mixture A 900ml 25
height of interface (cm)
20
15
10
5
0

Mixture E 600ml

time (minutes)

Figure 3: Effect of Initial Suspension of Mixture C with varying time

Mixture D

Effects of Particle Size Distribution

40
35
30
25
Mixture A -100Mesh 20
height of interface (cm)e
15

Mixture B +60Mesh

10
5
0
0

time (minutes)

Figure 4: Effect of Particle Size Distribution of Mixture D with varying time

Mixture E

Effects of Particle Size Distribution

40
35
30
25
Mixture D +60Mesh 20
height of interface (cm)e
15

Mixture E -100Mesh

10
5
0
0

time (minutes)

Figure 5: Effect of Particle Size Distribution of Mixture E with varying time

IV. Discussion of Results
Based on the results different zones appear during sedimentation. Fig. 1 to 5 are plots of
the depth of the clear zone versus time of the five figures. The plot shows that during initial
stages of sedimentation, the depth of the clear zone decreases at a constant rate as sedimentation
goes along, as shown by the steep linear part of the plot. The plot also shows that the slope
changes after a certain depth has been reached. The curve of the plot during the later stages of
sedimentation is almost horizontal yet still almost linear. The part of the plot that is almost
horizontal represents the compression settling stage, wherein hindered settling dominates.
Theoretical point is the point where a single distinct interface forms between the clear
liquid and sediment can be obtained. At the start of sedimentation, the solids have a
concentration and free settling is observed.
Lastly, it is observed that the sample with the highest height takes longer to reach its
critical point. The main reason for this phenomenon is that the time to reach the critical point
would be influenced by the amount of sediment that has to settle as it reaches the critical point.
Generally, this is the only effect of varying the height of the slurry can have .Initial height doesnt
necessarily affect the sedimentation rate.

V. Conclusion
Based on the resulting data gathered and their corresponding graphs, it can be concluded
that the initial concentration and height of the slurry affects its sedimentation characteristics.
Increasing the initial height would be resulting to increases in the settling time needed to reach
the final height and settling velocity.
Another conclusion is that the increase in the initial concentration of the mixture
decreases the settling velocity of the particles before the compression settling zone. At the
compression settling zone, higher concentrations would give higher settling velocities.