Ultra Filtration Unit

UF Ultra filtration System

Ultrafiltration is a form of filtration that uses membranes to preferentially separate different fluids or ions. The primary basis for separation is molecular size although some secondary factors such as molecular shape and charge can play a role. Ultra filtration (UF) is a filtration process that works similar to reverse osmosis.

Ultrafiltration is not as fine a filtration process as reverse osmosis, but it also does not require the same energy to perform the separation. Ultrafiltration is capable of concentrating bacteria, some proteins, some dyes, and constituents that have a larger molecular weight of greater than 10,000 Daltons.

Ultrafiltration is only somewhat dependent upon the charge of the particle and is much more concerned with the size of the particle. Ultrafiltration is typically not effective at separating organic streams.

Ultrafiltration also uses a membrane that is partially permeable to perform the separation, but the membrane's pores are typically much larger than the membrane pores that are used in reverse osmosis. Consequently, it requires a lower driving force to push the fluid through the membrane.