penapis

Penapis is a Malay term for a device or material used to separate solids from liquids or to remove impurities from gases or liquids. In everyday usage, it covers household items such as coffee and tea filters as well as industrial components used in water treatment, food and chemical processing, and air purification.

The word is formed from the Malay root tapis meaning to sieve or sift, with the prefix pe- and the suffix -an to denote an instrument or means. In general Malay usage, penapis refers to any device that performs filtering, but the exact type depends on context.

Common types include paper filters for coffee makers and tea strainers (penapis teh); metal mesh screens; cloth filters; cartridge filters in water purifiers; and industrial options such as bag or depth filters. There are also specialized penapis used for air filtration and oil separation.

Materials vary by purpose: paper or cellulose for disposable coffee filters; stainless steel or brass mesh for strainers; microfiber, activated carbon, or ceramic membranes for air and water filtration. Designs aim to trap particles, reduce turbidity, and remove contaminants while maintaining adequate flow.

Maintenance involves regular cleaning or replacement, preventing clogging, and proper disposal of spent media. In households, filters are changed on a schedule or when flow slows; in industry, media are replaced or regenerated according to process requirements.