Microfiltration and ultrafiltration are separation methods that rely on filter media with tiny pores to remove solids from a liquid stream. Factors such as the pore size and contaminants present affect the degree of purification.
Microfiltration and ultrafiltration strip solids from liquid streams until they are sent to more intensive treatment processes in a variety of industrial applications. This is required to purify streams for the production of potable water, to handle waste to meet effluent regulations, and to perform a variety of other separation processes.
Microfiltration and ultrafiltration membranes come in various material options and configurations to meet the needs of the intended application.
What Is Microfiltration?
Microfiltration is a filtration and separation process that uses porous filter media, often pleated into a cartridge format, to filter particles between 0.1 and 10 micrometers. Microfiltration allows for cleaner water and cleaner processes by relying on physical separation, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
In industrial applications, microfiltration is an ideal method of removing larger solids prior to other separation methods, including ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis. Various applications rely on microfiltration filter media to remove bacteria and small pollutants.
Industrial process streams typically integrate microfiltration in the following treatment applications:
- Food & beverage processes
- Wastewater treatment
- Bioprocesses
- Ink & dye production
- Oil separation from water
- Dairy processing where protein molecules are permitted
- Pharmaceuticals
Microfiltration is a suitable pre-treatment for streams prior to ultrafiltration. It improves the efficiency of the ultrafiltration filter media by removing large solids.
What Is Ultrafiltration?
Ultrafiltration, like microfiltration, separates solids from a pressurized liquid stream using membranes of tiny pores. An ultrafiltration membrane’s pores are around 0.01 micron in dimension. An ultrafiltration membrane can isolate the same solids from a liquid stream as microfiltration filter media, but with the right level of strain, it can also separate viruses.
Various industrial process streams and commercial treatment applications rely on ultrafiltration, including:
- Beverage clarification processes
- Removal of pathogens from milk
- Separating oil from water
- Chemical separation processes
- Protein concentration
- Wastewater treatment
If your application relies on microfiltration before ultrafiltration, Trupor® microfiltration filters provide optimum reliability and efficiency.
Check out the dedicated Trupor® site for more information:
Microfiltration with Trupor®
Microfiltration is a preferred liquid purification solution that various industries use to process liquid streams. Trupor® is a reliable and high-performance filtration solution for microfiltration, using the leading technology in microporous filtration media. You can rely on Trupor® to deliver best-in-class flow rates and remarkable reliability.
Trupor® is a patented filtration technology from Hollingsworth & Vose. It is sold as a rolled good with a composite structure and superior pore size uniformity. Our microfiltration filter media delivers performance stability, meeting the thinnest efficiency levels possible. They also have a long lifespan and can help you save time and money in a range of filtration applications.