Depth filters trap particles throughout the filter body, making them useful for materials with large sediment concentrations. They have increasing porosity from inlet to outlet and are less prone to clogging than surface filters. The best filter depends on the material and end goal, and customized products may be necessary for industrial filtration.
A depth filter is a filter that traps particles throughout the filter body, not just at the surface. A classic example is a cartridge filter, which should have particulate deposits all along the cartridge when viewed in section. These filters can be useful for materials that may have large concentrations of sediment, unlike a surface filter, which may have difficulty processing the material. Various models of depth filters are readily available in the market along with customized versions for specialized applications.
This filter design includes increasing porosity from inlet to outlet. As the material enters the filter, larger particles are trapped and cannot proceed. As the material works through the depth filter, increasingly smaller pores prevent all but the smallest particles from passing through. When the material comes out the other side, it will be largely filtered. The degree of filtration available depends on how small the pores eventually become.
With a surface filter, blockages can be a problem for heavily contaminated materials or with a wide range of particle sizes. The pores become clogged quickly as fluid moves through them, and the filter may need to be cleaned or replaced. Depth filters are less prone to clogging due to the filtration layers offered, although the pores will eventually be clogged with particulate matter. At that point, the depth filter can be discarded, or cleaned and prepared for another use.
Depth filtration may be preferable to surface treatments in some applications. The best filter depends on the type of material being processed, the end goal and the standards for that material. Multiple filtration passes may be required with some materials, such as wastewater, moving through filters and treatment tanks to remove pathogens and particulate matter. For tasks such as home water filtration, a single depth filter may be sufficient to remove hazards from the water, depending on the contaminants present.
Depth filters can vary greatly in size and cost. Businesses with a need for industrial filtration may need to order customized products to adequately meet their needs. Industrial filters can be part of a larger filtration system which may include holding and sedimentation tanks, tubing, and other materials needed for filtration. For optimized applications such as chemical and biological sample preparation, a very high degree of filtration is required, and operators may also need to regularly test and calibrate filters to confirm that they are functioning properly.
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