Implementation of a Commercial Scale Filtration using Lab Data

Filtrations, although critical to many fine chemical processes, are often approached with some trepidation during initial scale up due to the significant challenge of developing lab-scale data that translates flawlessly to scale.  Some primary factors that contribute to the inaccuracies include cake thicknesses that may vary in depth, particle morphologies that may be altered due to scale-related changes in agitation or heat transfer, and the filtration equipment itself that may be different from what was demonstrable in the lab.  As a result, the filtration flux is difficult to predict, many times leading to undesirable results.  Here, a recent implementation is presented in which a combination of lab experiments and theory led to the successful scale-up of a filtration from a 1.5-inch pocket filter to a 4-foot centrifuge.