Video: Operating a Benchtop Nutsche Filter Dryer

In this video, Sales and Process Engineer, Ben Kultgen demonstrates how a Pope Scientific Benchtop Nutsche Filter Dryer (also known as ANFD or NFD) is operated.

Pope’s benchtop Nutsche can perform multiple operations such as washing, filtering, drying, and re-slurrying of products. The operation begins with transferring a slurry to the Nutsche Filter. The valves are then isolated, pressurizing the Nutsche, and pushing the liquid out. This unit is rated up to 100 PSI. The bottom valve is opened, allowing for the liquid to flow out of the unit. A spray nozzle is used to wash the cake. An agitator is used to smooth and dig into the cake, which allows for even drying of and removal of residual solvents. The agitator can be manually raised and lowered for this. Once the cake is ready for drying, nozzles on the vessel are used for heating the jacket. A vacuum can also be attached be used to expedite the drying or a gas source may be attached to allow for gas flow through the unit. Once the cake is dried, the Nutsche is easily disassembled using an Allen wrench. After removing the three bolts, the high-pressure sanitary clamp can be removed from the bottom of the Nutsche, and the top can be lifted off, providing access to the cake material for further processing as needed.

Pope’s smaller lab-scale Nutsche units provide chemists and researchers with a powerful tool for testing, piloting and small-scale processing. These are a logical leap forward from the common Buchner funnel apparatus, providing important advantages including pressurization for faster filtering than vacuum draining alone, vessel vacuum and heating capability for efficient drying of filter cake, built-in spray heads for filter cake washing, complete material containment for increased safety and purity plus gas blanketing capability, optional mixers or cake agitators for churning/re-smoothing filter cake for greater drying efficiency. These lab units are also ideal for pilot work in the simulation of larger production-scale Nutsches.

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Video: Nutsche Filter-Dryer Overview

Pope Nutsche Filter-Dryers (also known as ANFD – A for Agitated), are known and used worldwide for critical high purity separations of liquids and solids. Products include pharmaceuticals, bio-materials, food processing, electronics grade materials, fine specialty chemicals, and many others.

Some of the Advantages & Capabilities of the Nutsche Filter Dryer include:

• Solids filtering, washing, re-slurrying, and drying can all be done in a single vessel
• Minimal operator / environmental exposure to the materials
• Faster filtering possible via pressurizing liquid out than sucking it out via vacuum.
• Ability to dry solids via vacuum and optional heating

Pope Nutsches are available in a wide range of scales in volumes from 0.2 through 1000 liters. The popular Pope Benchtop Nutsche Filter is often used in small scale production and for scale-up studies in research and development in many industries. These are available in 6” diameter, with a choice of 3, 4, or 5 liter volumes, and are kept in stock for short delivery times; renting also available.

All Nutsches are ASME stamped for safety, (other certifications available), and pre-fitted and tested with components including valves, sight glasses, pressure relief, spray assembly for cake washing or CIP, pressure/vacuum gauge, plus other optional items for special applications. Most Nutsches are fitted with heating/cooling jackets but can be ordered without, or with electric heating. It is typical to order a Nutsche with an optional raising/lowering cake agitator to break up lumps for drying efficiency, although some applications call for conventional mixers or none. Various system designs provide the customer with choices for harvesting, lifting, transporting, and other features.

For more details on our Nutsche Filter-Dryers or to speak with an application specialist, contact us.