17 FEATURED FILTRATION EXAMPLES - SCIENCE - 2025

Filtration is the process of separating solids from a suspension by means of a porous mechanical medium. The mechanical means that can be used for the separation of the solids is also called a screen, sieve, sieve or filter.

If we make a suspension in a liquid medium, and use a porous medium to filter it, we will be able to separate the smaller solids that will pass through the porous medium, and the larger solids that will be retained by the porous medium.

Filter

Filtration has been used domestically over the years. But the theory of filtration is also used for the interpretation of results at the laboratory scale.

The biggest limitation you encounter is that the interaction of the particles can vary depending on the characteristics of the solid particles and the fluid.

The variables that influence the filtration process are pressure, filter cake, viscosity and temperature, particle size and concentration, and filter medium.

Depending on the size and nature of the mixture, we can speak of different forms of filtering. On the one hand, the filtering itself, which separates the tiny solid particles in a colloidal suspension.

On the other hand, the casting, which separates the large and visible particles with a strainer. And sieving, which separates particles of different sizes without the need for a liquid medium.

Featured Filtration Examples

Air filters

They can be used in closed rooms but also in mechanical applications such as car engines.

These filters serve to separate and stop the solid particles that are in the air preventing their entry.

Water filters

Like the previous example, these filters serve to separate the particles that float in the water and purify the water.

Stone filters

These water filters from colonial times used to purify water through a porous stone. This stone served as a barrier to particles floating in the water.

Oil filters

In some combustion engines, particles are produced that are harmful to the engine, so a filter is installed to retain them, keeping the engine oil clean and thus prolonging its useful life.

Filter paper

This type of paper is used mainly in laboratory processes to separate solutions. This paper retains the smallest particles but allows water to pass.

Coffee

The coffee-making process is an example of filtering. The ground coffee is put on a strainer, usually made of cloth or paper, and the boiling water is poured over it.

In this way, the water dilutes and transports the flavor and properties of the coffee, separating it from the solid particles.

Juices

In the production of many fruit juices, the fruit is liquefied or the pulp is squeezed, and sometimes it is strained to separate the liquid from solid pieces.

Infusions

The infusions are prepared by infusing the herbs in boiling water. They can be done in two ways, adding the herbs to boiling water and then straining them, or using a filter paper bag that retains the herbs and allows the water to pass through, taking out its properties and flavor.

Pasta or rice

In cooking, the filtering technique is widely used for some dishes such as pasta and rice. These ingredients are cooked in water and then strained to remove excess liquid.

Flour

In confectionery, flour and icing sugar are sifted in such a way as to separate the ingredient particles and using only the smallest particles that pass through the sieve, thus preventing lumps from emerging in the final preparations.

Wine and alcoholic beverages

Wine and alcoholic beverages obtained through fruits need to undergo a filtering process to eliminate the solid substances from the final preparation, before allowing them to ferment to obtain the alcoholization process.

Sewer grates

In the streets we can see how some sewers have a piece that filters solid waste and separates it from rainwater so that it does not enter the sewers.

In this way, there are only small particles in the sewers that can be easily carried without risk of clogging them.

Sink and basin grates

They are being used more and more, these grids prevent solid waste from entering the plumbing and pipes of our house, not only to avoid possible jams, but also to avoid bad odors that are produced from the state of decomposition of organic waste.

Filtration of waste water

There are processes to clean sewage by filtering solid particles found in the water.

This filtration process makes the water reusable and not so much seawater is polluted.

Cigarette filter

The cigarette filter is an important part of them, since it retains the most toxic and harmful substances, preventing them from entering our system.

Cement

In construction, the sieving process of some materials such as cement is followed to create the mortar.

This makes the cement powders well decomposed and can be mixed homogeneously with the water.

Otherwise, it may happen that there are non-homogeneous cement balls that weaken the structure that is being built.

The kidneys, liver and lungs

The kidneys, liver and lungs function as the filters of the human body. In them the materials that are going to go to waste are separated and filtered.

If the kidneys do not produce the filtrate as they should, many times it is necessary to use dialysis machines that perform the filtering process as if they were the kidneys themselves.

References

1. KITTEL, Charles. Introduction to solid state physics. Wiley, 2005.
2. VAN KAMPEN, Nicolaas Godfried; REINHARDT, William P. Stochastic processes in physics and chemistry.
3. BENEFIELD, Larry D.; JUDKINS, Joseph F.; WEAND, Barron L. Process chemistry for water and wastewater treatment. Prentice Hall Inc, 1982.
4. PRIMICERO, M.; GIANNI, Roberto. Filtration in porous media. Notebooks of the Institut de mathematica »Beppo Levi» / Univ. born of Rosario. Fac. Of exact sciences and engineering, 1989.
5. MAFART, PierreBELIARD; MAFART, EMILEPierre; EMILE, Béliard. Industrial food engineering. Acribia,, 1994.
6. CONCHA, Fernando. Filtration & separation manual. Universidad de Concepción, Department of Metallurgical Engineering, 2001.
7. VAZQUEZ, Juan Luis. The equations of fluid filtration in porous media. Soc. Espanola Mat. Apl, 1999, vol. 14, p. 37-83.