More about Liquid Filters

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Liquid filters separate impurities, contaminants and other materials from all manner of liquids. These liquids can range in viscosity from thick to thin, and can be filtered for a wide range of intrusive substances. Not surprisingly, there are a wide assortment of materials used in liquid filters, including paper, cotton, sand, crushed granite and metal screen. The right choice of filter media depends on the application; a metal screen, for example can easily separate gravel from water, but would not be very useful in removing chlorine or other chemical compounds.

The most common types of liquid filters are water filters. Water filters can be used to purify drinking water, although they are also used in a variety of other functions, from cleaning swimming water and decontaminating irrigation water to recycling aquarium water. Water filters operate in two ways: physically and chemically. A chemical filter utilizes various substances that react with certain contaminants in the water, attracting and removing these contaminants and unwanted particles as the water passes through. An ion exchange filter, for instance, supplies sodium ions to the water, thereby removing typical “hard” water ions like calcium and magnesium. This softens water, purging elements that add to its hardness, such as iron, fluoride and heavy metals.

A water filter that operates without the use of chemical interaction is able to remove sediment and ultra-fine substances in the water. It cannot, however, alter the water’s chemical properties, nor can it reduce water hardness or reduce certain contaminants. These types of filters can range from single-use coffee filters to systems using grains of stone or sand. Oil filters are an excellent, effective example of this type of filter used for a different liquid. Like physical water filters, oil filters remove harmful particles. This adds greatly to engine and auto life.

Hydraulic systems also utilize liquid filters; like an engine, a hydraulic system can become quickly damaged by minute particles. Liquid filters minimize the amount of particulate in the hydraulic fluid, enhancing the performance and longevity of the machine.