Filtrations are a pervasive concept used in various fields, including chemistry, engineering, and biology, among others. A filtration refers to the process of separating or purifying a substance by passing it through a medium that allows the desired components to pass through while capturing or retaining the unwanted or impure elements.
In a general sense, filtrations involve the use of a filter or porous material with specific pore sizes. These filters act as barriers, selectively blocking or trapping particles based on their size, shape, or chemical properties. By doing so, the filtration process can remove solid particles, impurities, or unwanted substances from a liquid or gas stream.
Filtrations can be classified based on several factors. They can be either physical or chemical, depending on the principles utilized to separate the components. Physical filtrations rely on solely physical forces such as sieving, sedimentation, or centrifugation, while chemical filtrations involve chemical reactions to retain or isolate specific substances.
Furthermore, filtrations can vary based on the nature of the medium used as a filter. Common filtration media include paper, ceramic, sand, activated carbon, and membranes. Each medium possesses unique characteristics and retains different particles or substances, making it suitable for specific applications.
Overall, filtrations are essential processes that enable the removal of impurities or the isolation of desired components from a mixture, ensuring cleaner and purer substances.
