Abstract: Water, especially waste water, from which organic compounds such as, in particular, halogenated hydrocarbons are to be separated by extraction using a lipophilic extraction agent is passed through an open-cell carrier of large internal contact surface area in which the extraction agent is deposited on the contact surface and/or floods the carrier over at least part of its height to form a continuous liquid layer.

Abstract: In order to enlarge the size of the filter plates of a plate filter press without prejudicing the handling of the filter plates, an additional filter plate is arranged beneath each filter plate and is connected to this uppermost filter plate by members, such as by articulated connecting elements. Suspension and guide means are provided only for the uppermost filter plates.

Abstract: A filter press with filter plates slidable individually by a transport element has on each filter plate a locking hook which cooperates for locking with a locking bolt of the adjacent filter plate. A pivotable blocking element, which in the blocked position, positively blocks the locking hook locking this filter plate against unlocking and is connected to an actuating member which projects into the path of the transport element so that immediately before the latter takes along the relevant filter plate it engages the actuating member and thus pivots the blocking element into a release position so that the filter plate is separable after release of the locking hook. Each respective filter plate to be slid thus remains positively locked to the as yet unopened plate stack until immediately before it is taken along by the transport element and cannot become separated from the stack accidentally.

Abstract: Filter apparatus embodying a filter bed back-washing unit comprising a raisable and lowerable suction bell, the side walls of which define division walls to compart the respective partial volume of the filter bed to be cleaned. The side walls of the suction bell are of a height at least equal to the height of the filter bed, and the suction bell is raisable and lowerable by a stroke length which corresponds at least approximately to this height.

Abstract: To equalize the precoat application over the length of the filter press and/or over the height of each filter cloth, the drainage of at least a part of the carrier medium occurs at at least one, and preferably at a plurality of regularly distributed, drainage points located between the ends of the filter press, and preferably at a throttled rate, so that a pressure is built up in the filter chambers. At least one filter plate, and preferably a plurality of filter plates arranged at regular intervals, is provided with additional drainage orifices for the carrier medium at the upper end thereof with such additional drainage orifices being connected by flexible hoses to one or more filtrate-collecting pipes. The total cross-sectional area of all of these additional drainage orifices is smaller than the total cross-sectional area of the filtrate drainage channels used during filtration.

Abstract: Scraper apparatus for settling basins embodies a translatable bridge which is mounted above the basin and carries a pivot arm and a loading device that generates a return force for loading a scraper blade carried by the pivot arm into the scraping position. The loading device generates a return force which initially increases during upward pivotal movement of the scraper blade.

Abstract: A plate-type filter press having a cleaning truck movable in the direction of movement of the slidable filter plates embodies a drive and a pusher adapted to be brought into engagement with the filter plates. The cleaning truck has a releasable brake and the pusher is extensible by the drive in the direction of movement of the filter plates.

Abstract: A sludge de-watering plant has a plurality of filter presses connected in parallel with at least two low-pressure pumps delivering a high rate of sludge for rapid filling of the presses and at least two high-pressure pumps substantially effecting the filtration. A particular pipe system is associated with each of the low-pressure and high-pressure pumps with the pipe systems being connected to the individual filter presses for mutually independent delivery. Control means mutually controls the pumps in the two pipe systems independently by the relevant pressure in the pipe systems.

Abstract: Apparatus for extracting liquid from a suspension includes a horizontally mounted rotatable filter media covered concentrator drum with an inner drum rotatable about a horizontal axis within the concentrator drum and defining a suspension transition chamber therebetween. The drums are mounted in a common frame and are rotated in opposite directions with the suspension being introduced at one end of the transition chamber. Angularly disposed vanes on the outer surface of the inner drum convey the suspension through the transition chamber and turn and lift the suspension to a maximum elevation below the top of the transition chamber with the suspension falling back before reaching the top of the transition chamber. The filter media is cleaned as it moves at an elevation above the suspension.