Filtration media plays a major role in industrial settings. From removing contaminants from reusable liquids like oil and coolant to managing wastewater, you won’t find many industrial operations that don’t use at least one filtration process. As manufacturing and processing industries evolve, so too must the equipment and materials businesses use. Here is a look at the importance of filtration media, and some of the innovations that increase efficiency and performance.

What is Filtration Media?

Filtration media is used to separate solids from liquids. This occurs by allowing a contaminated liquid to flow through a barrier that collects particles and contaminants. The filter media collects particles, and the clean liquid flows through. Of course, there are many different filtration processes in industry and many different filtration methods. The benefits of filtration are immense because it allows businesses to recycle and reuse liquids such as oils, coolants and other lubricants without fear of contamination or damage to machinery.

Filtration media also comes in many types. For example, Interfil offers a huge range of media rolls made from a variety of materials, including nylon, polyester, polypropylene, polyester/viscose blend, and polyester/polypropylene needle felt. It’s not all about the materials though. Each type of filter media roll is designed for a certain level of particle capture, generally ranging from 150 microns down to 5 microns.

Getting the right type of filtration media for your processes is crucial. This ensures that all of your unwanted contaminants and particles are removed effectively. There are serious risks involved with using incorrect filter media, because there is an increased possibility of contaminants in your liquids, and these could damage machinery or render the liquid ineffective.

Where is Filtration Media Used?

Filtration media is used in many industrial applications, including:

• Wastewater management
• Hot and cold rolling
• Milling
• Machining and grinding
• Washing and cleaning
• Lapping
• Honing
• Food and oil fryers
• Plus, many more

Basically, you’ll find filtration used in most industrial operations, whether it’s manufacturing or food processing.

Why are Filtration Processes So Important?

There are a number of reasons to implement proper filtration processes, especially in the manufacturing industry. Filtration occurs in many forms, such as centrifugal, gravity, vacuum, membrane and more. Not all of these processes use filtration media, but each is effective for certain applications.

Sludge dewatering, for example, removes liquids from sludge, leaves behind environmentally safe wastewater, and reduces waste disposal costs. In manufacturing, machines need oil and other lubricants to function correctly. These lubricants can be contaminated by tiny particles of metal, which ultimately end up damaging machines or at best, decreasing their lifespans.

These are just two examples, but all filtration processes have value. Consider your ventilation systems, too. While not directly related to manufacturing, your employees are at greater risk of illness without appropriate air filtration.

So, to protect your machinery, reduce operating costs and get more value from reusing certain filtered materials, speak to your trusted filtration experts about customised solutions.

Innovations in filtration media

Nothing stays the same forever, and that’s a good thing for businesses. Advancements in filtration processes, equipment and materials are changing the face of industrial filtration. From making materials more sustainable to improving capture capability, filtration media manufacturers are always looking for advancements. Let’s look at just a few of the recent innovations in filtration media.

Sustainable Filtration

Industrial businesses are at the forefront of change when it comes to environmental responsibility. From reducing their carbon footprint to using sustainable materials, businesses have much to gain from a more eco-friendly approach. Filtration is such a big part of so many industries that even small changes can have a big impact. As we move forward, biodegradable filter media, or media made from recycled materials, will become more commonplace, providing a boost for any company’s sustainability targets.

Nanofibre Filtration

The current types of filtration media are extremely effective, providing filtration down to a minuscule 5 microns. However, a newer breed is becoming available, using nanofibre technology. This media offers excellent efficiency and capture capabilities, because the fibre size ranges from 100 to 500 nanometers.

The beauty of nanofibre filtration is its ability to not just separate solids from liquids, but also remove tiny particles such as bacteria and viruses. As such, nanofibre filtration media is also extremely effective for air purification.

Improved Membrane Filter Media

Typical membrane filtration media is the most common type used in industries, especially for removing solids from liquids. Membrane filter media has been around for a long time, but it is always improving like everything else. Innovations constantly occur, improving the quality of membrane filters by improving flow rates, selectivity and resistance to fouling.

It’s important to note that when we talk about innovations in filtration media, this often aligns with advancements in filtration processes. Forty years ago, industrial filtration looked a lot different than it does now. And in another forty years, it will look different again. The ultimate aims are to provide the most efficient processes, the most affordable materials and to design processes that can be automated to reduce the need for manual intervention.

Need Quality Filtration Media and Expert Advice?

As we mentioned, Interfil offers a wide range of filtration media for all applications. Best of all, our experts can help determine the very best filtration media for your processes. As one of Australia’s leading experts in industrial filtration, Interfil is here to help businesses make meaningful changes, save money and improve efficiency in the process. Contact us today to find out more.

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