Experimental investigation of sedimentation behaviour using cerium oxalate particles in oxalic‐nitric acid medium

Abstract

AbstractSettling behaviour of cerium oxalate particles in the solution was investigated by batch settling tests. The settling curves were experimentally generated for different overall solid fractions (OSF), initial dispersion height (ht) and batch cylinder diameter (d). Settling curves were analysed to obtain bulk settling velocity, and it was observed that bulk settling velocity decreases with increase in OSF and remains unchanged with change in cylinder diameter. Bulk settling velocity was found more or less same with increase in initial suspension height as long as the OSF was maintained constant. The particle settling time is delayed at higher OSF due to dense particle population as the movement of one particle is affected by the presence of neighbouring particle. Regression analysis of the settling curve was performed to identify suitable mathematical model. Two parameter based model was found to represent the settling curve better in comparison to three and five parameter based models. Applicability of dispersion number for characterizing the solid–liquid suspension was checked, and it was found that the dispersion number was not unique for the solid‐liquid system where it was influenced by the operating and dimensional parameters.