Know Your Options for Particle Fine Removal

Photo by David Geib on Pexels.com Process engineers struggle to clarify process liquids. Particle fine removal is part of the ongoing battle. But there are ways to automate the clarification processes to improve filtration and minimize operator exposure. The cake solid’s structure and the nature of the process will determine which types of pressure-filtration automated clarification technologies are best for you. Before we discuss removal of particle fines, let’s discuss how they are generated.…


API filtration technologies

Weighing Alternative API Filtration Technologies

Image source: Google images Being a process engineer is all about making choices. When it comes API filtration technologies, many different types of equipment can be used for removing catalyst residues. While conventional filtration equipment is operated manually, I recently worked with PharmTech on an article outlining how both candle filters and pressure plate filters are operated as automated systems. This article reviews what we discussed. Pharmaceutical manufacturers are increasingly…


Clear thinking about automated clarification technologies

Photo by SplitShire on Pexels.com This is an edited version of an article I wrote for The Chemical Engineer. I hope you enjoy this take on automated clarification technologies. Throughout my career in the solid-liquid separation market space, I have seen some interesting solid-liquid separation solutions. At one melamine resin facility, the slurry was in a formaldehyde process. The operators were wearing masks, opening up a manual plate filter in a room with residential floor fans, to dig out…


Palladium Recovery

Inventive Filtration Technologies for Palladium Recovery 

  Palladium image source Many times we encounter an “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” mentality. Process engineers in particular run up against this constantly. Yet, when it comes to palladium recovery, we’ve seen some strong results from taking an inventive approach to the filtration technologies uses. Currently, in recovering palladium catalysts the slurries are clarified with the use of filter presses, manual plate or nutsche filters, bag filters, or cartridge filters.   All of these…