Catalysts are chemical substances that speed up the rate of a reaction and which do not undergo any change themselves; they can, therefore, be recovered and recycled. This is a valuable property as catalysts such as platinum, cobalt and manganese for instance are simply too valuable to be used just once. And their costs have increased significantly over recent years. In addition, the product obtained with the catalyst generally has to be extremely pure and free of heavy metals and any traces of catalyst. Thirdly, simply disposing of the catalyst would have environmental implications.

 

Centrifugal separation is the most popular method for recovering catalysts that, subsequently, can be recycled continuously back into the process improving its cost-effectiveness, quality and  environmental compatibility.

Very heavy solids often have to be separated while recovering the catalyst. However, this is only half of the challenge: some of the solids compact so strongly on the wall of the bowl of a self-cleaning separator under the influence of centrifugal force that the discharge gap of the system may shift. GEA Westfalia Separator’s metering piston mechanism is the right tool for handling solids that become thus compacted. In this case, complete discharges of the bowl ensure a high degree of operating reliability.

 

If higher solid contents are required, decanters of different sizes are used for obtaining maximum dewatering and clarification efficiency.

 

Chamber-type separators, which are able to polish and concentrate the product at low feed quantities, are also used. In the newer generation of chamber-type centrifuges, the liquid is discharged completely from the drain holes of the bowl, the valuable catalyst remains in the chambers and can thus be discharged manually more easily.

 

Also nozzle-type separators especially from the TDC series including the entire package unit are increasingly used for recovering the catalysts; these provide highest clarifying results with a defined solid concentration in the nozzle discharge. The product contacting parts of the entire machines are available in various special materials for individual applications, different design pressures and explosion proof design.

 

To ensure that every machine operates reliably, GEA Westfalia Separator uses its vast experience in conjunction with specific pre-trials, where necessary, selecting the correct centrifugal system and size.