Patent ID: 7628749

Claim:
A system for the isolation and recovery of solid and/or liquid components from a solids-containing suspension by combined microfiltration and centrifugation, the system comprising a microfiltration subsystem and a centrifugation subsystem, the microfiltration subsystem comprising a cross-flow microfilter, having a feed input for introduction of the suspension to the system, a filtrate output for diverting filtrate from the system, and a retentate output; a retentate tank fed from the retentate output of the microfilter; a retentate pump fed from an output of the retentate tank; a first valve fluidly connected to the output of the retentate pump; and a first sensor capable of sensing the solids concentration in the retentate and controlling the first valve, wherein below a first preset solids concentration the first valve returns the retentate to the feed input of the microfilter, and above the first preset solids concentration the first valve diverts the retentate to the centrifugation subsystem; the centrifugation subsystem comprising an automatic piston discharge centrifuge having a feed input, a solids discharge output for diverting solids from the system, and a centrate output; a second valve fluidly connected to the centrate output; and a second sensor capable of sensing the solids concentration in the centrate output and controlling the second valve, wherein above a second preset solids concentration the second valve returns the centrate to the retentate tank, and below the second preset solids concentration the second valve diverts the centrate from the system.