Micro-Klean™ Sludge Dewatering Plate & Frame Filter Press

Industrial wastewater treatment often reaches a point where gravity separation and clarification alone are no longer enough. When sludge volumes increase, disposal costs rise, or discharge limits tighten, a plate-and-frame filter press becomes a critical part of the treatment process. The Micro-Klean™ sludge dewatering plate-and-frame filter press is engineered to remove solids, reduce waste volume, and produce a clean effluent suitable for discharge or reuse within industrial wastewater systems.

This piece of sludge dewatering equipment is a self-contained dewatering system used for a variety of industrial applications.

A plate-and-frame filter press is a mechanical separation system used to remove suspended solids from wastewater by applying pressure across filter media. As wastewater is forced through the press, solids are captured between plates to form a dense filter cake, while clarified liquid exits the system for discharge or reuse. In filter press wastewater treatment applications, this process is commonly used after chemical pretreatment and upstream clarification or solids settling (e.g., a clarifier) to convert liquid sludge into manageable solids.

The Micro-Klean™ is a powerful plate-and-frame sludge filter press created specifically for industrial wastewater environments. It's a self-contained system featuring welded carbon-steel construction, corrosion-resistant pre-piping, gasketed polypropylene filter plates, and an automatic OPEN/CLOSE hydraulic ram. Performance benchmarks include: 

• Produces filter cake with dryness levels up to 55% by weight
• Reduces sludge disposal volume by as much as 95%
• Filters suspended solids to 5-25 microns, with removal down to 1-2 microns using filter aid precoat

This makes the Micro-Klean™ a practical choice for facilities seeking reliable sludge dewatering without excessive operational complexity.

A plate-and-frame filter press follows a predictable, repeatable process that converts wastewater sludge into dewatered solids with consistent results from cycle to cycle.

Before filtration, wastewater is typically treated with combinations of pH adjustment, oxidation-reduction (ORP), and polymer chemicals (coagulants and flocculants) prior to filtration.

The chemically pretreated and/or settled sludge is pumped into the filter press. The hydraulic ram closes the plates to create sealed filtration chambers, allowing pressure to build evenly across the filter media.

As the filter feed pump pressure increases, liquid passes through the filter cloth while suspended solids are retained between the plates. Over time, a dense filter cake forms, capturing fine particulates and concentrating solids.

After filtration, compressed air purges residual liquid from the cake. The hydraulic ram retracts, plates are separated, and dewatered solids are discharged into the integrated collection hopper for removal.

The Micro-Klean™ plate-and-frame filter press improves sludge dewatering outcomes while simplifying day-to-day operations. Its performance benefits focus on producing drier solids, reducing disposal volume, and maintaining consistent separation across variable wastewater conditions, all of which contribute directly to lower operating costs and improved process control.

The Micro-Klean™ produces dense filter cakes with dryness levels reaching approximately 55 percent by weight, reducing free water and improving solids stability during handling and transport.

By removing up to 95 percent of liquid volume from sludge, the system significantly lowers disposal requirements. Less volume translates into fewer hauls, reduced landfill cost, and improved housekeeping.

Semi-automatic controls allow operators to manage filtration cycles with minimal adjustment. Automated options further reduce manual steps while maintaining consistent results across variable wastewater conditions.

Selecting a sludge filter press is a long-term decision that impacts operating cost, compliance reliability, and maintenance requirements well beyond initial installation. ALAR supports each Micro-Klean™ installation with integrated expertise and lifecycle support.

Engineering teams provide system configuration guidance, operator training, and mechanical inspection to support optimal startup and sustained performance.

Certified industrial professionals conduct preventative maintenance programs and supply critical spare parts to minimize downtime and extend equipment life.

Following bench testing and successful startup, ALAR provides performance warranties aligned with system design criteria.

Dedicated sales, chemical, parts, and engineering teams provide single-vendor accountability with responsive support throughout the system lifecycle.

Plate-and-frame filter press systems are used across a wide range of industrial wastewater applications where solids removal and volume reduction are required, including: 

• Concrete: Captures cement fines from block sawing and grinding process water, along with solids from other cured (inactive) concrete operations.
• Food and Beverage: Removes suspended solids, both organic and inorganic, from wastewater following chemical pretreatment, prior to discharge or further downstream treatment.
• Flexographic Ink: Separates coagulated pigments from washdown wastewater to reduce color, suspended solids, and associated metals.
• Surface Finishing: Removes metal hydroxides and particulate matter following chemical pretreatment and solids settling (clarifier).
• Paint and Coatings: Separates pigments and resins from wastewater streams generated during equipment cleaning.

These applications represent common use cases, though Micro-Klean™ systems are applied across many additional industries worldwide.