An apparatus for separating liquid from a slurry comprised of a solid and a liquid
is described. The apparatus comprises a container sized and configured to receive
the slurry which container comprises a removable cover sized and configured to
enclose an atmosphere within the container when the cover is attached to the container,
a filter disposed within the container for separating the liquid from the slurry,
and a vacuum pump in fluid communication with the enclosed atmosphere of the container
which pump is configured to create a vacuum within the container that causes the
liquid to move through the filter, which pump is configured to vacuum material
comprised of solid material, liquid material, gas or a combination of two or more
of the foregoing. Related methods of separating liquid from the slurry using the
apparatus of the invention are also described.
