What does microfiltration primarily target in water treatment?

What does microfiltration primarily target in water treatment?

• A. Dissolved salts and heavy metals
• B. Suspended solids and some bacteria
• C. Nutrients and chloramines
• D. Gases and organic compounds

Answer: (B)

Microfiltration is a physical filtration process that mainly focuses on removing suspended solids and certain microorganisms, such as bacteria, from water. It employs membranes with pore sizes typically ranging from 0.1 to 10 micrometers, which effectively capture particles that are larger than the membrane pores while allowing water and smaller dissolved substances to pass through. The nature of microfiltration makes it particularly effective against turbidity caused by particulate matter and certain pathogens present in water. This process is crucial for producing high-quality water in various applications, such as drinking water treatment, where the removal of bacteria can improve safety and taste. In contrast, the other answer choices address different aspects of water treatment. For instance, dissolved salts and heavy metals pertain more to processes like reverse osmosis or ion exchange, which address dissolved substances rather than suspended ones. Nutrients, chloramines, gases, and organic compounds often require different treatment methods such as bioreactors, activated carbon filtration, or chemical treatments. Thus, microfiltration's specific role in targeting suspended solids and some bacteria makes it indispensable in the water treatment process.

Microfiltration is a physical filtration process that mainly focuses on removing suspended solids and certain microorganisms, such as bacteria, from water. It employs membranes with pore sizes typically ranging from 0.1 to 10 micrometers, which effectively capture particles that are larger than the membrane pores while allowing water and smaller dissolved substances to pass through.

The nature of microfiltration makes it particularly effective against turbidity caused by particulate matter and certain pathogens present in water. This process is crucial for producing high-quality water in various applications, such as drinking water treatment, where the removal of bacteria can improve safety and taste.

In contrast, the other answer choices address different aspects of water treatment. For instance, dissolved salts and heavy metals pertain more to processes like reverse osmosis or ion exchange, which address dissolved substances rather than suspended ones. Nutrients, chloramines, gases, and organic compounds often require different treatment methods such as bioreactors, activated carbon filtration, or chemical treatments. Thus, microfiltration's specific role in targeting suspended solids and some bacteria makes it indispensable in the water treatment process.