Nitrocellulose filtration in wastewater treatment requires equipment that can handle fine, hydrophobic, and flammable solids safely and reliably. Conventional filter technologies frequently fall short on all three counts, making closed, automated pressure filtration the preferred approach for this application.
How does nitrocellulose create challenges for conventional wastewater filtration?
Nitrocellulose particles are extremely fine and hydrophobic, making them difficult to capture and discharge with standard filter media. Their flammable nature introduces a further constraint: any filtration system handling nitrocellulose-laden wastewater must prevent contact between airborne dust and the surrounding atmosphere at every stage of the process cycle.
Open or semi-open filtration equipment is therefore not suitable for this duty. Conventional filter cloths are prone to blinding under fine hydrophobic solids loads, and manual cake discharge creates unacceptable safety risks.
How does the FUNDABAC® candle filter address nitrocellulose separation?
DrM delivered a FUNDABAC® candle filter for a customer in Thailand, configured for the separation of nitrocellulose from high-concentration wastewater. The fully enclosed pressure vessel keeps flammable dust isolated from air throughout the entire filtration cycle, eliminating the risk of dust ignition at the source. The candles capture sub-micron particles, delivering clear, compliant filtrate.
Automatic dry cake discharge via gas blow-back removes accumulated solids without manual intervention, and the complete cycle, including filtration, washing, drying, and discharge, runs fully automatically under PLC control. Waste is discharged as a dry solid, significantly reducing disposal costs compared to wet cake handling.
Where is FUNDABAC® technology applied in hazardous wastewater treatment?
The FUNDABAC® candle filter is well suited to wastewater applications where flammable, toxic, or otherwise hazardous solids must be handled safely within a closed system. This project adds to DrM’s reference base in industrial wastewater treatment across chemical processing and fine chemical manufacturing.
