Microfiltration & Ultrafiltration

Microfiltration (MF) is the bigger pore size cross-flow filtration process. Typical application of this low pressure process is the removal of high molecular weight compounds such as bacteria, fats, yeasts and fungi, clarification of chemical, biological, pharmaceutical or food solutions, product purification, as well as waste water treatment.

Ultrafiltration (UF) is a low pressure process for selective filtration of molecules of specified size and weight. Material ranging in size from 1000 MW to 1.000.000 MW are retained by UF membrane while lower molecular weight compounds, salts and water are passing through. Typical applications of UF membrane are concentration and recovery of high molecular weight compounds separation/removal of contaminants, clarification, fractionation of organics, removal of colloids and suspended solids, thus being also used as pretreatment for reverse osmosis units.

Different configuration are available, the mai are:

• Inorganic tubular (ceramic, sintered stainless steel)
• Inorganic plate (ceramic, Silicon carbide)
• Polymeric tubular
• Polymeric spiral wound
• Polymeric hollow fiber
• Polymeric flat sheet and cassettes
• Submerged polymeric (flat or fiber) and inorganic