Journal in Particle Technology

Bicol University
College of Engineering

Department of Chemical Engineering

DETERMINATION OF FILTRATION CONSTANTS BY GRAVITY AND VACUUM

FILTRATION
ZARAGOZA, Elajah Mae A.
Dept. of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Bicol University, Albay

ABSTRACT

The Filtration constants are determined through 2 different methods of filtration: (1) Gravity Filtration and (2) Vacuum Filtration. In both
experimental set ups, filter paper was used as the filter medium and CaCO 3 or Calcium Carbonate was used as the main reagent. In the
Gravity Filtration set up, the volume is constantly checked every minute. In Vacuum Filtration, an air pump is connected to the Buchner
flask, thus the air serves as the driving force that draws the liquid to the filter paper. The volume of the filtrate in this set up is measured
to varied specified times. The filtration constants were determined as: (For gravity) K= 6.43x10 -10 m6/s, Ve= 1.57x10-3 m3, c= 4.39 kg/m3,
Rm= 1.62x1010/m and rf = 2.05x10-7 m3/s. (For Vacuum) K= 2.53x -10 m6/s, Ve= 5.43x10-4 m3, c= 4.85 kg/m3, Rm= 1.36 x1011/m and rf =
impurities from a mixture. And the two general methods of
2.33x10-7 m3/s
1. INTRODUCTION

Filtration described as an operation in which solids (particles)

present in a solid fluid mixture are separated from the liquid
by forcing the flow of the mixture through a supported mesh
or cloth or sand or other porous material (Walker et al., 1937).
The mixture is caused to flow by various forces: gravity,
pressure, vacuum, or centrifugal force. The products of the
separation consist of a fluid stream free or nearly free of
particles, a solid phase with some entrained liquid and
possibly a solidfluid mixture with enhanced solid
concentration.
Also, filtration may also be defined as the process employing
energy (for the flow of the suspension to be treated) and
matter (filter media) as separating agent, leading to a relative
solid/fluid displacement from the flow of the suspension
through the medium with particle retention at the surface of
the medium, or particle deposition throughout the medium.

Fig 1: Representation of separation

process

Filtration has several techniques all of which has the same

purpose of getting an outcome for the isolation of solids from
mixture or for the removal of

filtration include gravity filtration and vacuum (or suction)

filtration
Gravity filtration is the method of choice to remove solid
impurities from an organic liquid. The impurity can be a
drying agent or an undesired side product or leftover reactant.
Gravity filtration can be used to collect solid product and is
often used in small scale experiments using filter paper in a
funnel.
In vacuum filtration, the solution to be filtered is drawn
through the filter paper by applying a vacuum to a filter flask
with a side arm adaptor thus the pressure gradient provides
the force which draws the liquid through the filter paper.
Vacuum filtration is typically a fast and efficient way of
filtering; allowing a greater rate of filtration thus it is most
preferred in small batch operations.
Filtration methods are used in the home, in research
laboratories, in industrial processes, and in controlling
environmental pollution. Chemists often use filtration to
separate materials from mixtures of different chemical
compositions. Filtration is used by the oil, gas, food and
beverage, and pharmaceutical industries, among others.
Municipalities use filtration techniques when treating sewage
and purifying water.
Overall, Filtration is one of the most significant processes. It
can be done with other unit operations to process the feed
stream and obtain a product. And because of this, desired
products are collected easily and reliably.

Journal in Particle Technology

2. MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.3 Methods
Gravity Filtration Set up

2.1 Materials
A solution of calcium carbonate suspended in
distilled water having a total volume of 500mL, 2 Buchner
flask, 2 Erlenmeyer flask, iron stand, iron ring, iron clamp, 1
graduated cylinder, 1 beaker, stirring rod, funnel, air pump

Fig 4:
Gravity filtration experiment set up

A 5 % w/w solution of calcium carbonate was

prepared. A total of 1000 mL of the said solution was prepared
in an Erlenmeyer flask.

Fig 2: Materials used

The solution was poured to the funnel. Every minute,

the weight of the filtrate is recorded as well as its
corresponding filtration time.

2.2 Preparation of the solution

Vacuum Filtration Set up

For the constant-pressure filtration, same procedures
were used but with different setup as with the pressure source.
An air pump was used to maintain a constant pressure on the
system.

Fig. 3:
Calcium carbonate(CaCO3) solution

The solution is prepared by mixing 2.5 g of 5% w/w calcium

carbonate and distilled water in the Erlenmeyer flask having a
volume of 500mL. Two solutions are prepared for the two set
ups.

Fig 5:
Vacuum filtration experiment set up

3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

VACUUM FILTRATION
Table 1: Measured filtrate volume for varied specified times

Time (min)

0.00

Time (s)

0.00

Mass (g)

0.00

Volume
(m3)
0.00

Journal in Particle Technology

The slope and intercept based from the graph is:
5.18

311.00

41.00

0.000041

7.12

427.00

97.00

0.00097

9.23

554.00

168.50

0.000169

14.56667

874.00

204.00

0.000204

y=7.92 x 109 x+ 4.30 x 106

m=

7.92 x 10

; b=

4.30 x 10

GRAVITY FILTRATION

Table 2: Data for dv and dt

Table 4: Result of filtrate per minute

Time (min)

Volume
(m3)

dv

dt
Time, s

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

311.00

0.000041

0.000041

311.00

427.00

0.000097

0.000056

116.00

554.00

0.000169

7.1 x10-5

127.00

874.00

0.000204

3.5 x10-5

320.00

0.00

Mass, g

0.00

0.00

0.00

7.23

0.0000072
3

17.11

0.00001711

27.74

0.0000277
4

38.86

0.0000388
6

50.07

0.0000500
7

61.29

0.0000612
9

73.03

0.0000730
3

84.79

0.0000847
9

96.51

0.0000965
1

107.99

0.0001079
9

1
60
120

2
3

The Vn is computed using

V n=

180

( V n1 +V n )
2

42
240
5

Table 3: Data for Vn and dt/dv

Vn
0.00

dt/dv

311.00

7.12

427.00

9.23

554.00

14.56667

300
6
360

0.00

0.0000205

874.00

Volume, m3

Time, min

7
420
8
480
9
540
10
600

The linearized form of the Ruth equation for constant pressure

filtration will be used. As stated below:
2

dv gc (P) A
=
=r
d aC(v e + V ) f
Fig 6: Vn vs. dt/dv for the Vacuum Filtration

Equation No. 1

The graph of v vs. dt/dv will produce coeficients if fitted

linearly that corresponds to constants on the equation above.

Journal in Particle Technology

Table 5: Data for dv and dt
Volume, m3

Time, s

dv

dt

4.4465 x10-5

5352363.961

5.568 x10-5

5347593.583

0.00

0.00

0.00

0.00

6.716 x10-5

5110732.538

7.23 x10-6

60

7.891 x10-5

5102040.816

60

0.0000072
3

9.065 x10-5

5119453.925

0.00001711

9.88 x10

-6

1.0225x10-5

5226480.836

1.063 x10

180

0.0000277
4

-5

1.112 x10-5

60

240

0.0000388
6

1.121 x10-5

60

300

0.0000500
7

1.122 x10-5

60

360

0.0000612
9

1.174 x10-5

60

420

0.0000730
3

1.176 x10-5

60

480

0.0000847
9

1.172 x10-5

60

540

0.0000965
1

1.148 x10-5

60

600

0.0001079
9

120

60
60
Using these data, a graph can be constructed.

Figure 7: Vn vs. dt/dv for the Gravity Filtration

Based from the graph given, sharp decline on the value

indicates large change in the volume of the filtrate collected.
Thus, it can be implied that such sharp decline indicates a
consequence of discontinuous pouring of the solution.
Therefore, probing the graph feasible points apply to linear
regression is the last four points.

The Vn is computed by using the formula:

V n=

( V n1 +V n )
2

Equation No. 2

Table 6: Data for Vn and dt/dv

Fig 8: Vn vs. dt/dv for the Gravity Filtration with linear regression
on the last four points

Vn

dt/dv
The slope and intercept based from the graph is:
0.00

0.00

-5

8208755.187

1.217 x10-5

6072874.494

2.2425 x10-5

5644402.634

3.33 x10-5

5395683.961

3.615 x10

y=3.11 109 x +4.88 x 106

m=

3.11 x 109 ; b= 4.88 x 10 6

DETERMINATION OF FILTRATION CONSTANTS

Journal in Particle Technology

Gravity Filtration

The equation below is used to get the value of

The value of K and Ve can be computed using this

equation:

2v 2Ve
= +
v K
K

Wherein the diameter of the filter medium is 125 mm and

height of 55. The slurry is assumed to be 1000 kg/m 3 in which
CaCO3 is almost negligible that cannot affect the overall
density of the solution.

The slope(m) is 3.11x109 and the y-intercept is 4.88x106.

2
m=
K

Solving K,

To get the value of A,

A=

2
K

D
4

A=
K=6.4309 1010

Equation No. 5

2 A 2 (P ) g c
K=
C

Equation No. 3

That can be denoted as y = mx + b.

3.11 x 109 =

m6
s

125
1000
4

A=0.01227 m2

And solving Ve,

y=

The area(A) should be multiplied to because the filter cake

occupied only half of the filter medium. A then is equal to

2
V
K e

6.3159x10-3 m2 and

4.88 10 =

2
Ve
6.4309 1010

would be equal to 1.439x1010 m/kg.

To get the value of Rm the following equation is used:

R m=

V e c
A

Equation No. 6

V e =1.5691 103 m3
Calculating,
The value of c can be computed using the equation below:

c=

Mc
V

c=

1.5691 x 103 (4.39)(1.439 x 1010 )

6.1359 x 103
10

Equation No. 4

Wherein, the mass of the cake is 0.65 g and the volume of the
filtrate is 148 mL.

0.65 g
1000

R m=

( 148 x 106 )

c=4.39 kg/m3

Rm=1.6155 x 10 /m
Then the equation below will be used in order to determine the
rf.

rf =

K
2(V e +V )

6 .4309 1010
rf =
2(0+1 .5691103)

Journal in Particle Technology

r f =2.0492 107

m3
s

R m=

5.4294 x 104 ( 4.85)(3.1792 x 1011 )

6.1359 x 103

Rm=1.3644 x 1011 /m
Vacuum Filtration
The value of K and Ve is calculated:

m=

2
K
9

7.92 x 10 =

2
K
m6
s

2
V
K e
2
Ve
2.5253 1010
4

V e =5.4294 10 m

The value of c was also calculated:

c=

c=

K
2(V e +V )

rf =

2.5253 10
2(0+5.4294 104 )

r f =2.3256 10

m
s

4. Conclusion

And solving Ve,

4.30 10 6=

rf =

10

K=2.5253 1010

y=

Then the equation below will be used in order to determine the

rf.

Mc
V
g
( 0.99
1000 )

( 204 x 106 )

c=4.85 kg/m3

Due to the addition of air as diving force in the

vacuum filtration method, the rate of filtration is bigger
compared to the gravity filtration method. And based from the
gathered values, it was observed that the value of K is bigger
in vacuum filtration because of its high pressure. The mass of
dry cake per unit volume of filtrate collected is also higher
compared to the gravity filtration method and this is due to the
high amount of filtrate volume. Due to the different conditions
of the two setups, the average specific cake resistance is not
close in values and the value of s is assumed to be noncompressible.
Vacuum Filtration is more plausible in removing
solids from a small amount of solution or in a mall batch of
solution.
5. REFERENCES
1.
2.
3.

http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Filtration
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suction_filtration
http://www.chem.ucalgary.ca/courses/351/laboratory/filtr
ation.pdf

4.

Geankoplis, C. Transport Processes and Unit Operations, 3ed

VIII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The same value for A will be used to calculate for the value of

The author would like to extend her sincerest gratitude for making
this paper a success:
1. To Engr. Marco Angelo Dejucos, for sharing his knowledge and
skills, for his unending support and guidance.

Calculating the Rm,

2. To Sir Joel Llagan, for his unending assistance while the students
are performing their experiments.

. It would then be equal to 3.1792x1011 m/kg.

3. To her classmates, for the cooperation in performing the

experiment

Journal in Particle Technology

4. Last but not the least, to Almighty God, for His unending love and
support and for giving the class the wisdom to finish the experiment.