Filter papers and filter membranes are scientific tools that can effectively filter impurities and are widely for various fields. However, the properties and uses of both differ depending on the type of constituent material. The following briefly introduces the difference between the two.
Difference definition between Filter Papers and Filter Membranes:
Filter membrane:
- Mainly used for sample analysis, especially for the filtration of mobile phase and samples in chromatographic analysis
- And has a good effect on protecting chromatographic columns, infusion pump piping systems, and sampling valves from contamination.
- Often used in other fields, such as colloid separation, sterility experiments, and gravimetric analysis.
Filter paper:
- Most lab filter papers are made from cotton fibers and are made in different ways depending on the application.
- Since its material is made of fibers, its surface has countless small holes for liquid particles to pass through, while larger solid particles cannot.
- According to the property, suit for the separation of liquid and solid substances that are mixed together.
Difference classification between Filter Papers and Filter Membranes:
Filter membrane:
Mixed fiber microporous membrane, polypropylene membrane, polyethersulfone membrane, polyvinylidene fluoride membrane, polytetrafluoroethylene membrane, nylon membrane
Filter paper:
Generally divided into two types: qualitative and quantitative. In analytical chemistry applications, when inorganic compounds are filtered to separate precipitates, the residue collected on the filter paper uses to calculate the loss rate during the experiment.
Difference application between Filter Papers and Filter Membranes:
Filter membrane:
- For raw materials, pharmaceutical solvents, water for injections, infusion terminal filtration, etc.
- And high-purity water, mineral water, juice, soft drinks, dairy terminal filtration, etc.
- Photoresist, chemical reagent terminal filtration
- Plasma filtration
Filter paper:
- Chemical laboratory filter tools note that the filter paper cannot filter zinc chloride, otherwise, the filter paper will be corroded and damaged by zinc chloride
- In general, filter paper uses only for routine solution filtration
Advantages of filter membrane over filter paper:
- The pore size is small and uniform, and the ratio of several holes can be large.
- High porosity, fast flow rate, not easy to clog, and large filtration capacity;
- The sterile membrane filter is thinner, which is an inert material, and has less filtration and adsorption;
- Contains fewer impurities and has little effect on the filtrate.
- The sterile membrane filter is actually a semi-permeable membrane. Simply put, filter paper can pass both colloid and solution, while filter membrane can only pass solution but not a colloid.
- A filter membrane is a functional semi-permeable membrane that allows solvent molecules or some low-molecular-weight solutes or low-valent ions to pass through. It is a special and promising separation membrane
- If the filtration requirements for particulate matter are relatively high, filter membranes should be used.
