Filtration is a process by which materials are separated from each other with the help of filtering media. In the context of liquid filtration the process involves separating solids and liquids from each other, and in the context of air filtration the process involves separating gasses and suspended solid particles from each other.
Related Categories
Filtration
Filtration is a very important process in many contexts. Especially in industry, filtration plays an important role in the safety and effectiveness of a variety of processes. For example, hydraulic fluid, which is an essential component in many different kinds of heavy machinery, must be filtered in order to function correctly. Hydraulic fluid filters perform hydraulic fluid filtration, preventing damage to hydraulic equipment, which in turns reduces the chances of product loss and employee injury. Filtration is also used to purify industrial ingredients like fuel, oil and grease as well as water and a wide variety of other chemicals. Air filters are also essential to many industrial operations; they help to control environments in the context of chemical research and development, and they keep air safe for employees. Commerce and consumer products contexts also account for a large portion of the demand for filters; they are used in the processing of food, the filtering of air and in the cleansing of drinking water.
There are two main categories into which all filtering systems can be placed: liquid filters and gas filters. Liquid filters are involved exclusively in the filtration of liquid materials, and gas filters are involved exclusively in the filtration of gasses. There are filters that can be used in the separation of solid particles from each other. However, filtering systems used to separate solids are usually referred to by other names. Different processes are used to treat different fluids during filtration. Vacuum filters, which include drum, disc, horizontal belt, tilting and table filters, are simple, reliable machines used in the chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries. There are several different methods of water filtration, including electrodialysis, electrodialysis reversal, and reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis filters are a kind of membrane filter; they employ a semi-permeable, selective membrane to remove contaminants from water in order to improve its quality for drinking or for industrial use. Other filtering methods include electrodeionization and ultrafiltration processes.
