Filtruar

Filtruar is a Romanian term referring to the process of filtration, the separation of solids from liquids or gases by passing the mixture through a porous barrier. The aim is to remove suspended particles or impurities while allowing the fluid to pass through. Filtration is used across science, industry, and everyday life, and can involve physical barriers, adsorption, or diffusion to achieve separation.

Filtration media vary widely and include common materials such as filter paper, fabric, glass frits, and polymer or ceramic membranes. Pore sizes are a key parameter, typically described in micrometres for conventional filtration or nanometres for membrane processes. Filtration can be categorized by mechanism: depth filtration, where particles are trapped within the volume of the filter material, and surface filtration, where particles accumulate on the filter surface. Membrane filtration uses well-defined pores to achieve specific selectivity and includes subtypes such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and nanofiltration, with reverse osmosis being a related process that relies on high pressure to remove dissolved ions.

Common configurations include gravity filtration, which relies on the force of gravity, and vacuum filtration, which uses suction to pull liquid through the filter, often with a Buchner funnel or similar apparatus. Filtration can be performed with liquids at ambient or elevated temperatures and may require pretreatment to prevent clogging or to protect the filter material. In laboratory and industrial contexts, aseptic filtration is used to sterilize solutions, while chemical adsorption onto filters can aid in contaminant removal.

Applications span water treatment, food and beverage production, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and analytical laboratories. Key considerations include filtration efficiency, rate of flow, filter lifespan, and potential adsorption or loss of target substances.