märkämassa

Märkämassa is a Finnish term that translates to "wet mass" or "slurry" and generally refers to a semi-liquid mixture of solids and liquids. The composition of märkämassa can vary widely depending on its application. It often describes materials that are too fluid to be handled as a solid but too viscous to be pumped or treated as a simple liquid.

Common examples of märkämassa include digested sludge from wastewater treatment plants, which is a mixture of water and organic solids. In the paper industry, it refers to the pulp mixture before it is dewatered and formed into paper sheets. Mining operations may also generate märkämassa from ore processing, where finely ground rock is mixed with water.

The properties of märkämassa, such as its viscosity, solids content, and particle size distribution, are crucial for determining appropriate handling, storage, and processing methods. Dewatering is a common process applied to märkämassa to reduce its liquid content, often for disposal or further treatment. Technologies like belt presses, centrifuges, or screw presses are used to achieve this separation. The term is specific to contexts where the consistency of the material is a key characteristic.