alipainefiltraatio

Alipainefiltraatio, also known as vacuum filtration, is a laboratory technique used to separate a solid from a liquid. It involves applying a vacuum to draw the liquid through a filter medium, leaving the solid behind. This method is generally faster than gravity filtration because the pressure difference created by the vacuum accelerates the flow of the liquid.

The process typically utilizes a Büchner funnel or a Hirsch funnel, which are specialized funnels designed to hold a filter paper and connect to a vacuum source. The solid-liquid mixture is poured into the funnel, and the vacuum is applied, usually generated by a vacuum pump or a water aspirator. The liquid passes through the filter paper, and the solid particles are retained on the surface of the paper. The filtrate, the liquid that has passed through the filter, is collected in a receiving flask, often an Erlenmeyer flask.

Alipainefiltraatio is commonly employed in chemistry and biology for various purposes, such as collecting precipitates, purifying solid compounds, or removing solid impurities from solutions. It is particularly useful when dealing with fine solids that might clog a gravity filter or when a rapid separation is required. The efficiency of the filtration can be improved by washing the collected solid on the filter paper with a small amount of fresh solvent to remove any residual liquid containing impurities. The choice of filter paper depends on the size of the solid particles being separated.