Question

Define Filtration

Answer 1

Hint: Filtration is a process involving separation of liquid from solid matter. With various applications on an industrial and day to day basis, it is a very common process.

Complete step by step answer:
Filtration is a physical, biological or chemical operation that separates solid matter and fluid from a mixture with a filter medium that has a complex structure through which only the fluid can pass.

Solid particles that cannot pass through the filter medium are described as oversize and the fluid that passes through the filter paper is called filtrate. Oversized particles may form a filter cake on the top of the filter and it may also block the filter lattice which indeed prevents the fluid phase from crossing the filter which is known as blinding. The size of the largest particles that can successfully pass through a filter is called the effective pore size of that filter. The separation of solid and fluid is imperfect. Solids will be contaminated with some fluid and filtrate will contain fine particles.
Filtration occurs both in nature and in engineered systems which are biological, geological and industrial forms.

There are many different ways of filtration and they all aim at attaining separation of substance. This is achieved by some form of interaction between the substances or objects to be removed and the filter. The substance that is to pass through the filter must be a fluid. Methods of filtration vary depending on the location of the targeted material i.e. whether it is dissolved in the fluid phase or suspended as a solid. There are various examples of filtration that we use in day to day life. For example coffee filters to keep coffee separate from the grounds, HEPA filters in air conditioning to remove particles from air and many more examples.

Note:
Every process has some disadvantages. Filtration is a more efficient method for separation of mixtures than decantation but is more time consuming. If very small amounts of solution are involved, most of the solution may be soaked up by the filter medium.