filtratio

Filtratio, often rendered as filtration in English, is a physical separation process in which a mixture is passed through a porous barrier to remove solids from liquids or gases. The barrier, or filter, retains suspended particles while the fluid passes through. Filtration efficiency depends on pore size, filter media, contact time, driving force, and fluid viscosity.

Two broad forms are depth filtration (particles are captured throughout a porous medium) and surface filtration (particles are retained on or near a barrier surface). Modes include gravity filtration, vacuum filtration, and pressure-driven filtration.

Common media range from paper and cloth to membranes and ceramic filters. Membranes enable size-based separations such as microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis.

Applications include water treatment, beverage clarification, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and laboratory analysis. Filtration also supports sterile filtration using fine membranes to remove microorganisms.

Challenges include fouling, where accumulated material reduces flow; maintenance and cleaning, including backwashing and chemical cleaning. Filtratio has a long history, with early sand filters for water sanitation and evolving into modern membrane technologies used across industry and research.