Scaling filtration time initial dependencies of wastewater sludges

Abstract

The filtration time, t(f), during constant pressure dead-end filtration testing of wastewater sludge is dependant on the initial height, h(0), and the initial solids concentration, phi(0). The theoretical dependencies of these initial conditions are explored: t(f) varies with h(0)(2) and cphi(0)(2), where c is a material dependant parameter that is also dependant on phi(0) and the applied pressure. Empirical values for c relative to a given phi(0) are determined from phenomenological filtration theory to give a qualitative scaling method to compare the filtration behaviour of highly compressible materials under differing initial conditions. The method is validated using filtration testing of..