The automatic solution for splitting, homogenizing and filter drying of sludge samples – highly efficient, reliable and contamination-free
Use
- Splitting, homogenizing and filter drying of sludge-like samples
Material
- Sludge-like materials like, e.g., flotation samples and others
Operation mode
- Automatic
All advantages at a glance
High-precision sample splitting
The HFTA enables simple and effective sample preparation and analysis of sludge samples, e.g., from flotation systems. The sludge-like material is fed into the upstream sample divider, which produces a representative sample from a larger volume of material. The material can either be fed in by the operator or fully automatically via a sampler and pneumatic pipe transport.
An aliquot of the sample is fed into the mixer installed under the splitter. Waste material is directed into a flushing channel for discarding. The system ensures effective cleaning by direct water rinsing after each sample splitting cycle.
Effective sample homogenization
Before the sample reaches the filter dryer, it is temporarily stored in the mixer, where a continuous flow of air prevents solids from settling and leads to effective homogenization of the collected sample fractions. This further improves the representativeness of the sample during subsequent sample preparation and analysis. To increase filter efficiency, a flocculant can optionally be added to the mixer shortly before the outlet valve is opened.
A three-way diverter is located below the mixer, which directs the material either into the filter dryer, a sample collection container for further manual processing or the flushing channel for discarding. This further improves the flexibility of the overall system.
Reliable and efficient dewatering in the filter dryer
The heart of the HFTA, the filter dryer, enables reliable and highly efficient dewatering of the sample. After the sample has been homogenized in the mixer and optionally supplemented with flocculant, it is transferred to the filter dryer. There, the water is effectively removed to produce a filter cake that can be further processed. The dewatering process is carried out through a series of precisely coordinated steps, including the use of compressed air to transfer the filter cake into a glass beaker.
The entire system, including sample splitter, mixer, three-way diverter, and filter dryer, is rinsed with water after sample processing is complete to ensure a contamination-free environment for the next sample.
Ideal for robotic laboratories
The HFTA is integrated into automated robotic laboratories. Our system not only automates and simplifies the sample processing of sludge samples. It also provides prompt analyses that are necessary for controlling the production process, e.g. in a flotation plant. In addition, our system can also be used to calibrate online measuring systems that are used for continuous component analysis.