Microfiltration

Microfiltration is a pressure-driven membrane separation process that retains suspended particles and many microorganisms while allowing water and dissolved substances to pass through.

Membrane filtration: A separation process in which a membrane selectively allows some substances to pass while retaining others. Microfiltration is a pressure-driven form of membrane filtration, distinguished by its relatively large pores.
Water treatment: Processes that improve water quality for human use, industrial needs, or environmental discharge. Microfiltration removes suspended matter as one step in producing cleaner water.
Ultrafiltration: A pressure-driven membrane process that retains smaller particles and macromolecules than microfiltration. Its finer pores can retain proteins and viruses that generally pass through microfiltration membranes.
Porous membrane: A thin material containing interconnected or discrete pores that permit selective transport. Microfiltration depends on porous membranes whose openings set the physical size barrier.
Permeate: The fluid that passes through a membrane during a separation process. Microfiltration produces permeate containing water and most dissolved substances that pass the membrane.
Membrane pore size: The characteristic dimensions of openings in a filtration membrane that govern which particles it can retain. Microfiltration membranes use pores large enough for dissolved substances to pass but small enough to retain suspended matter.
Drinking water: Water treated to meet standards for safe human consumption. Microfiltration can reduce turbidity and remove many microorganisms from drinking-water supplies.
Nanofiltration: A pressure-driven membrane process that retains small organic molecules and many dissolved multivalent ions. Nanofiltration removes dissolved constituents that microfiltration leaves in the permeate.
Polymeric membrane: A membrane made from one or more polymers and used to separate substances by selective transport. Polymeric materials are common choices for microfiltration membranes because they can be formed into varied structures.
Retentate: The fluid and material remaining on the feed side of a membrane after separation. Particles and microorganisms excluded by microfiltration accumulate in the retentate.

Linked from 5 pages