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Home » Use of activated carbon filter for removal of oil from urea mother liquor

Use of activated carbon filter for removal of oil from urea mother liquor

Q: We are pumping back 65 cubic meters per hour of urea mother liquor (approximately 70% concentration) to the crystallizer vessel after centrifuging urea crystals. Centrifuge oil seal leakage is a frequent problem contaminating return mother liquor with 90 PPM oil in it. Can we apply activated carbon filter to remove oil from urea solution? How can we estimate filter sizing indicating: pressure drop across bed; activated carbon; equipment; steam regeneration required; final purity with respect to oil content; annual cost (maintenance and operation) of such filter; first investment cost; basic literature to size such device (rule of thumb).

A: Yes, carbon adsorption should work as well as bag filtration with oil absorbing bags. But, it seems to me that the key would be to upgrade their centrifuge seal so the oil doesn't leak into the product? With respect to the other c-adsorption questions, this is out of my expertise since we have our own c-adsorber expert on this and I don't get involved.


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