Separation process having improved capacity

1. A method for separating a solid/liquid mixture, comprising:

in a rotary pressure filter apparatus comprising one or more filter members, the rotary pressure filter having a cumulative filter area of all filter members thereof, filtering a solid/liquid mixture to form a filter cake comprising the solid on at least one filter member at a rate sufficient to form at least 3000 kg of filter cake per square meter of cumulative filter area per hour, calculated on a dry-weight basis;

washing the filter cake with a wash fluid in the rotary pressure filter apparatus to form a wet filter cake;

transferring the wet filter cake to a dryer, the wet filter cake comprising at least 10 wt % wash fluid; and

drying the wet filter cake in the dryer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid/liquid mixture is filtered at a rate sufficient to form at least 5000 kg of filter cake per square meter of cumulative filter area per hour, calculated on a dry-weight basis.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid/liquid mixture is filtered at a rate sufficient to form at least 8000 kg of filter cake per square meter of cumulative filter area per hour, calculated on a dry-weight basis.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the wet filter cake comprises at least 12 wt % wash fluid.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the wet filter cake comprises at least 15 wt % wash fluid.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a circumference of the rotary pressure apparatus defines a 360° work path, and the at least one dry zone comprises less than 50° of the work path.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a circumference of the rotary pressure apparatus defines a 360° work path, and the at least one dry zone comprises less than 40° of the work path.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a circumference of the rotary pressure apparatus defines a 360° work path, and the at least one dry zone comprises less than 30° of the work path.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filter cake comprises an aromatic carboxylic acid.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the filter cake comprises terephthalic acid.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the filter cake comprises at least 99.4 wt % terephthalic acid on a solvent free basis.

12. The method claim 10 , wherein the filter cake comprises at least 99.8 wt % terephthalic acid on a solvent free basis.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the wash fluid comprises water.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein a circumference of the rotary pressure apparatus defines a 360° work path, and the work path comprises a feed zone, a first wash zone, a second wash zone, a dry zone, and a discharge zone.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein

the feed zone comprises at least 100° of the work path; and

the dry zone comprises less than 50° of the work path.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein

the feed zone comprises at least 120° of the work path; and

the dry zone comprises less than 40° of the work path.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the solid/liquid mixture is filtered at a rate sufficient to form at least 5000 kg of filter cake per square meter of cumulative filter area per hour, calculated on a dry-weight basis; and

the wet filter cake comprises at least 12 wt % wash fluid.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the solid/liquid mixture is filtered at a rate sufficient to form at least 8000 kg of filter cake per square meter of cumulative filter area per hour, calculated on a dry-weight basis; and

the wet filter cake comprises at least 15 wt % wash fluid.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the solid/liquid mixture is filtered at a rate sufficient to form at least 5000 kg of filter cake per square meter of cumulative filter area per hour, calculated on a dry-weight basis;

the wet filter cake comprises at least 12 wt % wash fluid; and

a circumference of the rotary pressure apparatus defines a 360° work path, and the at least one dry zone comprises less than 50° of the work path.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the solid/liquid mixture is filtered at a rate sufficient to form at least 8000 kg of filter cake per square meter of cumulative filter area per hour, calculated on a dry-weight basis; and

the wet filter cake comprises at least 15 wt % wash fluid; and

a circumference of the rotary pressure apparatus defines a 360° work path, and the at least one dry zone comprises less than 40° of the work path.