SEDIMENTATIO

N
ChE 155 6L
Hernandez | Macazo | Pacana |
Pacio | Tan | Toledo

DEFINITION
O A separation process wherein heavy

particles in a fluid settle due to

gravity; leaving a mixture of clear
liquid and thicker slurry (Foust,
1980.).
O The separation of a suspension into a
supernatant and a sludge through
gravity settling (Brown, 1973).

TYPES
1. Centrifugal
Sedimentation
Utilizes centrifugal
force and relies on
the
density
difference of the
two phases in the
fluid

2. Gravity
Sedimentation
Separation of
dilute slurry with
the use of
gravity settling

FUNCTIONAL
OPERATIONS

Thickening
Increases
concentration
of
suspended solids
Used for removal of large amounts
of particles suspended in a liquid

FUNCTIONAL
OPERATIONS

Clarification
Ensures high degree of separation.
Clarified effluent is produced by
removal of suspended particles.

BATCH
SEDIMENTATION
Clear liquid is decanted while sludge is

removed
Involves varying zone heights as time passes
At steady-state, heights of each zone are
equal
Initial rate function of feed concentration
Late stages settling depends on initial
height

(a)

(b)

(d)

(c)
A

(e)
A

B
Z0

Z
D

A Clear Liquid
B Slurry
C CRITICAL SETTLING POINT (point at which
a single interface
forms between clear liquid and sediment)
D Sediments
INITIAL HEIGHT (z0) initial height of the slurry
ULTIMATE HEIGHT (z) - height of the

SEDIMENTATION
ZONES
Particulate Settling

Particles are at a low concentration and

sufficiently far apart to settle freely

Zone Settling
Particles are constrained to settle as a mass

Compression Settling
Particles descend as restrained by

hydrodynamic forces and mechanical

support from particles below

Free/Particulate
Settling

Particles are at sufficient distance

from the container wall and from
other particles, avoiding collisions

particle
velocity
zc
tc
where:
dz Constant
dz
k f dt Zo = initial height

kf
z
t
o
o
dt
Zc = height at critical point

z c z o k f t c t o

to = initial time
tc = time at critical point
kf = free-settling rate

Hindered Settling
Settling rate decreases and drops

gradually until compacted height is

reached
z
t
adz
lower rate
duewhere:
to
dz Settling is at
z
= height at any

k
dt

crowding
k c z z of
c
zc particles
time t, beyond tc
z z tc
dt

ln z zo ln zc zo kc tc to

z = height at
infinite time
kc = compression
settling rate

Factors Affecting
Sedimentation
1. Particle Size

2. Liquid Viscosity
3. Solid and solution Densities
4. Particle Characteristics in Slurry

(1) Particle Size

Larger particle settles first
Discrete particles less than 20

microns
Flocculent particles above 20
microns in size

(2) Liquid Viscosity

The higher the liquid viscosity, the

slower the settling velocity of the

where:
particles.

gd

d= particle size (diameter)

p = density of the solid/particle
p
f
f = density of the medium/fluid
t
= viscosity of the liquid
g = gravitational constant
Recall: Stokes Law for Terminal Velocity

18

(3) Solids and

Solution
Density

High particle density and lower fluid

density will result in a faster settling
where:
velocity.

gd

d= particle size (diameter)

p = density of the solid/particle
p
f
f = density of the medium/fluid
t
= viscosity of the liquid
g = gravitational constant
Recall: Stokes Law for Terminal Velocity

18

Factors Affecting
Particle
Movement

Force of Gravity
Density Difference
Drag Force

DESIGN
CALCULATIONS

1 Rate-limiting Layer
Determination
C Z =
L

CO ZO

where:
zo = initial height
co = initial concentration
zi = height the slurry would occupy if all the solids present
were at concentration cL
cL = minimum concentration at which boundary layers interfere

Coe & Clevenger

Method
ASSUMPTION:
Settling velocity is proportional to the
concentration of suspended solids.
After constant settling rate, every
point on the curve corresponds to
different concentration.
Maximum area determined from
different concentrations is the

Coe & Clevenger

Method
The area of the thickener is given by the equation:

where, FL = limiting flux

Co = original concentration
Lo = feed rate

Solid flux

Batch flux
CoLu / A

Underflow flux
Cova
Co

CL

Solids concentration

Cu

Talmadge and Fitch

Method
where,
Lo = specified volumetric feed rate
tu = time to reach desired underflow
concentration
zo = initial height

Talmadge and Fitch

Method
The critical concentration, Cc, can be
determined by constructing a line
bisecting the angle formed by the
intersection of the tangent lines
drawn to the top and end portions of
the settling curve.

SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE
EXPERIMENT
To identify the rate at which the height of
O

the interface chances at specific

concentration
O To identify the difference in the rate of
change in height of the interface at
different concentration of equal volume
O To identify the difference in the rate of
change in height of interface at equal
concentration of varying volume
O To make use of the batch settling data
gathered in the experiment for the design

OBJECTIVES OF THE
EXPERIMENT
The objectives of the experiment are:
O to determine the effect of slurry

concentration on the slurrys settling

characteristics;
O to determine the effect of initial height on
the slurrys settling characteristics; and
O to use the batch settling data for the design
of continuous thickener or clarifier.

MATERIALS and
METHODS

MATERIALS
o 1000 mL Graduated Cylinder
o Top-loading Balance
o Stirring Rods
o Rulers
o Stopwatch

CaCO3 (Reagent)
o Tap Water (Solvent)
o

METHODS
o Effects of Initial Concentration
o Effects of Initial Height

Effect of Initial
Concentration
Fill 4 identical 1000-mL graduated cylinders with

1.

varying (w/v) of CaCO3: 1%, 5%, 10% and 15%

2.

Weigh 10 g, 50 g, 100 g and 150 g of CaCO3

respectively for each concentration. Use 1000 mL
of tap water as solvent to dilute the samples.

3.

Stir the mixture thoroughly and vigorously until a

uniform appearance is achieved.

Effect of Initial
Concentration
Record the height of the interface immediately after

4.

mixing, and at 1-minute intervals thereafter. The

graduated cylinders must not be disturbed in the
entire duration of the experiment.
5.

Continue recording the interface height until no

significant changes in settling occur.

6.

Make twotrials.

Effect of Initial
Concentration
1%
5%
Data Blanks
Ti
me
Volume: ________
(mi
n)

0
1
2
3

10%

15%

Effects of Initial
Height
Fill 4 identical 1000-mL graduated cylinders with

1.

10% (w/v) of CaCO3 each.

2.

Weigh 100 g, 75 g, 50 g and 25 g of CaCO3 and

dissolve with 1000 mL, 750 mL, 500 mL and 250 mL,
respectively, of tap water.

3.

Stir the mixture thoroughly and vigorously until a

uniform appearance is achieved.

Effects of Initial
Height
Record the height of the interface immediately after

4.

mixing, and at 1-minute intervals thereafter. The

graduated cylinders must not be disturbed in the
entire duration of the experiment.
5.

Continue recording the interface height until no

significant changes in settling occur.

6.

Make two trials.

Effect of Initial
Concentration
1ooo
Data Blanks
Ti
mL
Concentration:me
________
(mi
1
2
n)

0
1
2
3

750 mL
1

500
mL
1

250
mL
1

REFERENCES

Brown, G. et. al. 1973. Unit Operations. New

York: John Wiley and Sons Inc.
Foust, R. et. al. 1980. Principles of Unit
Operations,
2nd ed. John Wiley and Sons.
Geankoplis, C.J. 1993. Transport and Unit
Operations. London: Prentice Hall.
McCabe, W., J. Smith and Harriet, P. 1993.
Unit Operations of Chemical