Method and apparatus for the solid-liquid-separation of material mixtures and suspensions

Method for the liquid-solid-separation of material mixtures and suspensions in which the material mixture is fed under pressure into a closed chamber provided at least with one filter surface and in which within the chamber a hydrostatic pressure is created leading to the separation of the liquid phase, wherein after the separation of the liquid phase been done the chamber is opened for removing the filter cake produced and the filter area is moved out of the chamber with the filter cake, characterized in that the material mixture firstly is treated with a hydrostatic pressure of about up to 0.2 bar, wherein 80 to 90% of the fed volume is removed as filtrate, that thereafter the concentrated remaining volume is drawn off and is treated with a pressure of up to 5 bar in the closed chamber and, that by reducing the volume of the chamber finally the remaining filtrate is separated with a pressure of up to 50 bar.