Fine Particle Filtration

Sediment is any particulate matter that can be transported by fluid flow and which eventually is deposited as a layer of solid particles on the bed or bottom of a body of water or other liquid. Sedimentation is the deposition by settling of a suspended material.

In a water plant these particles may be rust flakes from the water pipes, sand grains, small pieces of organic matter, clay particles, or any other small particles in the water supply. These unwanted particles can effect equipment performance in addition to being a contaminant that may not be allowed discharge to your local municipality. Sediment can cause blockages in your strainers, flow controls and even the solenoids inside your equipment.

A bag/cartridge filter can acts as a sieve to remove these particles. Bag filters are effective at reducing sediments but cannot remove chemicals or heavy metals. They will also have no effect on your effluent water taste or odor.

Bag/Cartridge filters are classified using two primary measures, namely: “Nominal” or “Absolute” and within these categories a “micron” value.

To better illustrate the differences in a nominal or absolute classification consider the following two examples:

• A “Nominal 5 Micron Filter” is rated to block 85% of particles measuring 5 microns or greater
• An “Absolute 5 Micron Filter” is rated to block 99.99% of particles measuring 5 microns or greater

We are happy to discuss further with you about your application and what type of filtration method would be most efficient. We offer filter media in a variety of materials including polypropylene, polyester, cellulose and cotton.

In general, sediment filters are rated by a “micron” number. This refers to the particle size that will be trapped by the filter.

They are further classified as “nominal” or “absolute”. For instance, a nominal 5 micron filter can trap 85 % of particles of five microns and larger; an absolute 5 micron filter can that trap 99.9 % of particles of 5 microns and larger. For most purposes, nominal filtration is fine; when very high grade water is required, an absolute-rated filter may be needed.

Sediment filters can be made of a variety of materials. Wound string or cord, polypropylene, polyester, cellulose, ceramic, glass fiber, and cotton are among the most common. To learn more about our offerings please review our Bag Filtration section.