Effect of the flow rate
As it is shown in Fig. 3, the filter media performs better at low flow rates.
This might be explained because the oil droplets coalesce to a droplet size large enough to be entrapped, as a result of longer residence times in the bed. Also, at a certain flow rate, the void spaces are progressively clogged by the retained
oil, and hence the local velocity of the liquid phase increases, weakening the interaction forces and driving the disperse phase
droplets more deeply into the bed.