Difference between Media Filtration and Membrane Filtration System!

With changing times, water regulations have changed as well all over the world. The required level of water treatment is increasing. As we are talking about water treatment, it leads us to the use of two types of filtration system: Media Filtration system and Membrane filters.

How do we differentiate between these two filtration systems? How do they work in different industrial and commercial applications? If you are willing to know their functions and differences then this article will help you to understand them very well.

Media filtration- How do they work?

Media filtration systems work as physical capturers of pollutants, also they help with the adsorption of water pollutants using chemical reactions. Basic media filtration systems are composed of sand, stone, organics, or other relevant materials. The selection of media type for filter composition is based on pollutant types that are needed to be removed. These days, carbon-based media filtration systems are being used as well. They have proven to be more effective in pollutant removal than regular sand-based media filtration systems. 

Media filters are used in a way by running water over and through them so pollutant particles will be stuck in the voids of the media particles and on the surface of the media particles. The other way used for filtration is the use of chemical and molecular action and cation exchange. Such a process is used only when we need to remove nutrient or metal particles.

Media filters are applied in municipal water systems, stormwater filtration systems, sewerage filtration systems, and oil gas industries.

Membrane Filtration systems and the way they work

A membrane filtration system uses a thin layer or sheet of a specific material. The water passes through it for the removal of targeted pollutants and Impurities. Media filters are built by using a wide selection of materials. While selecting those materials, their pore size and durability are always prioritized in preference. Pore size is the gap in the material. Smaller pores are more efficient for stopping particles to pass through the membrane system.

Membrane filters provide their uses in different ways, such as Microfiltration, Nanofiltration, Ultrafiltration, and reverse osmosis filtration. Mostly microfiltration and Ultrafiltration are used as pre-treatment in the filtration system by using its finer pores. 

The key difference between Media filtration and membrane filtration

The basic difference between these filtration systems is their application. Both systems are used for clearing out pollutants. They both use common filtering methods. Whereas membrane filtration systems don’t include the use of chemical processes for water filtration, media filtration can require the use of chemical processes for decent filtration.

Final say

Media filters serve the same purpose of cleaning pollutant particles from water. The selection of your filtration system is totally dependent on the requirement of your application. If your media application is not applicable to chemical processes, you can choose membrane filters and vice versa.