Steam pressure filtration in combination with a water insoluble pore liquid

The treatment of solvent-loaded solids, e.g. following a solid–liquid extraction presents a challenge in practice becoming even more complicated if solvents used are volatile organic compounds (VOC) which are poorly water soluble and thus bio-incompatible. A complete mechanical separation of the VOC from solids is not possible and following drying processes are usually energy intensive. Steam pressure filtration provides an efficient alternative combining mechanical and thermal treatment of filter cakes by using steam resulting in excellent washing and dewatering behaviour of the filter cake. A subsequent steam stripping offers a further reduction of the VOC load, which was not part of comprehensive investigations yet. The overarching goal of this paper is to expand understanding of steam pressure filtration in combination with water insoluble VOC. Furthermore, it is shown that a complete purification of the solids by steam stripping is possible with only low steam consumption at moderate filter cake heights.