Particle filtration is a physical or mechanical process that separates solids from fluids. Particle filtration typically is defined as the filtration of particles larger than 1 micron and is used as one of the first filtration steps in industrial wastewater treatment. Common technologies that are used for fine-particle filtration include bag filters, cartridge filters, multimedia filters, and self-cleaning filters.
Because industrial wastewater characteristics can vary so dramatically, depending on the industry, it is common to use multiple technologies to process the water. The properties of the solids in the water, including particle size, shape, density, stickiness, and quantity, as well as other materials in the water such as oil, determine which filter technologies are used.