Fouling of a polypropylene filter fabric with silica

The aim of this work was to examine the fouling of a polypropylene filter f abric, which had been used in a silica filtration process. According to the EDAX-elemental analysis, the fouled multi/monofilament fabric contained so dium, magnesium, aluminium, silicon, phosphorous, sulphur, chlorine, potass ium and calcium. The inlet slurry's main components were sodium, silicon an d sulphur and some aluminium. Thus, the fouling mineral compounds originate d from the water used in the fabric cleaning. The fabric did not clog evenl y over the width of the filter; a higher degree of fouling occurred on the feed side than on the filtrate side. Modifying the fabric with Teflon did n ot improve results. An ultrasonic cleaning technique (frequency 40 Hz), usi ng a variety of chemicals was examined, along with both mechanical cleaning and cleaning with pressurised water. According to the results from the stu dy, it is advisable to add ultrasonic cleaning equipment to the process. Fu rther, with the aid of mechanical cleaning, the air permeability of the cle aned fabric can be returned to the same level seen with new fabric. Cleanin g with pressurised water was not effective, possibly because the pressure o f the water was too low.