Investigation of sedimentation behaviour of micro crystalline cellulose

Abstract

Batch settling is a widely used method to separate a flocculated suspension into concentrated sediment and a clear liquid. Experimental and theoretical studies of this process have been published for almost a century due to its importance in separation processes. Fundamental aspects of sedimentation and suspension flows include properties of suspensions (concentration and viscosity); individual particles (particle size and shape, particle-particle interaction, surface charge); and sediments (permeability, porosity and compressibility). The investigated material, MCC, is of great interesting for several different applications, e.g. in the food and pharmaceutical industry. Hence, this work investigates the sedimentation process of micro crystalline cellulose in order to understand its behaviour considering the different conditions set out. Based on the results obtained in this work the following conclusions can be drawn: both the sedimentation behaviour and the compressibility of the sediment are affected by the surface charge of the MCC particles; finally, the solidosity of the sediment is as a function of pH.