Use of Process Imaging to Improve the Performance of a Filter

Solid-liquid separation is rate-limiting step for many DOE waste treatment processes. Understanding the fouling structure and its relationship to the foulant may shed light into improving cleaning cycles (minimizing waste streams) and optimizing filter performance (extended lifetime operations). The work used process imaging technologies to quantify dynamics of solid particle movement and filter cake formation on surface of filters, and measure the shape, thickness, dimensions, and buildup of the filter cake as a function of time.