ELECTROFILTER APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR PREVENTING FILTER FOULING IN CROSSFLOW FILTRATION

摘要

An apparatus and method for continuously removing liquid from an aqueous suspension; the apparatus consists of a filter housing; an electrofilter disposed within the housing to provide a crossflow chamber and filtrate chamber within the housing; means for supplying a suspension to the crossflow chamber and means for removing a suspension reduced in liquid content from the crossflow chamber, both means may be disposed so as to provide a crossflow of the suspension across the surface of the electrofilter or disposed to provide a batch process with optional stirring means; and outlet means for removing liquid from the filtrate chamber. A first electrode of the electrofilter is disposed on a surface of the crossflow chamber side of the electrofilter when the filter material of the electrofilter is nonconductive. If the electrofilter is conductive it can function as the first electrode as well as a filter. A second electrode is disposed on the filtrate side of the electrofilter. A method for continuously separating a liquid from an aqueous suspension while reducing membrane or filter fouling includes providing a crossflow apparatus having an electrofilter disposed therein; pumping the aqueous suspension into the crossflow aparatus at a pressure adapted to cause flow of filtrate through the electrofilter; and concurrently with pumping the suspension into the apparatus supplying electrical energy to the electrofilter at a voltage adapted to reduce fouling of the electrofilter.