Toward Multi-Dimensional Separation of Nanoparticles in Tubular Centrifuges

The processing and preparation of particulate products is an important process in modern industry and science. The enormous potential for innovation in research and development is due to the complex interactions of solids with their environment. The aim of advanced particle production is to achieve high yields of narrowly distributed particle sizes, shapes or material compositions that provide advantageous product specifications. The integration of solid–liquid separation into these processes expands the process engineering scope in terms of product quality and efficiency. Designing these processes to accommodate a wide range of separation characteristics at small-particle-size scales is a major challenge. Taking these aspects into account, the present work aims to improve a dynamic simulation tool for tubular centrifuges that models the time- and space-dependent mass transport and thus, for the first time, can predict separation outcomes when processing both single- and multi-component systems. Utilizing an optical measurement technique, nanosuspension properties can be measured in real time during separation to support model validation. The simulation results align closely with experimental findings and offer plausible insights when addressing multi-dimensional property distributions of non-spherical particles. This study contributes to advanced modeling of separation experiments in tubular centrifuges in real time, taking into account multiple particle properties such as material density and particle form.