microfiltrationultrafiltration
Microfiltration and ultrafiltration are related pressure-driven membrane separation processes that use semi-permeable membranes to separate components in liquids according to size and, to some extent, charge. They are widely used for clarification, concentration, and pretreatment in water, food, and biopharmaceutical industries.
Pore size and mechanism differ between the two processes. Microfiltration typically features pore diameters of about
Common configurations and materials include hollow-fiber, spiral-wound, and flat-sheet modules. Membranes are made from polymers such
Applications span water treatment, beverage clarification, dairy processing, and biotechnology. MF serves well for turbidity reduction
Operational considerations include fouling management, cleaning-in-place, and module aging. Energetic requirements are typically moderate, with lower