10-micron filter, 1-micron filter… What does it mean?
If you have done enough research, you will definitely see the word “microns” everywhere in product specifications or features. Micron is a major factor you must consider because it determines how powerful your industrial water filtration system will be. Industrial water filters with different micron ratings serve different purposes in your water filtration journey.
Alright, let’s get straight to the point.
Micron – What is that?
A micron is essentially a unit of measurement that is also named a micrometre. So how long exactly is a micrometre?
1 Micrometre = 1 / 1,000,000m (commonly used symbol : μm)
Just to give you an idea of how tiny it is, a mould can be 7 micrometres, which can’t be seen by the naked eye anymore. In fact, our eyes are built to be able to see lengths beyond 40 micrometres. Here is a chart that shows a reference of micrometres :
So, how does this relate to water filtration? Generally, water filters can purify and remove tiny particles. The smaller the particles they can filter, the stronger the filtration power.
What Are The Uses Of High Micron Rating Filters?
So, if that’s the case. Why not just get the industrial water filter that has the lowest micron rating? Let me explain.
Depending on industries, they require different levels of purification for their use of water. To make it clearer, let’s compare the two industries: Hotels vs Hospitals.
High Micron Rating- Hotel Industry
Hotels need clean water to conduct their daily business activities such as washing and cleaning their rooms or equipment. They will also need to ensure guests are getting clean water for showering and cleaning purposes. In that case, a deep bed water filtration system that filters up to 10 microns is more than enough for their daily business activities.
Low Micron Rating- Medical Industry
In medical industries, clean and purified water is crucially important as they are dealing with viruses or bacteria that are almost as small as 0.5 microns. If the water filter does not filter out these bacteria or viruses, it will instantly become a life-threatening situation if they are conducting, let’s say a kidney washing.
Filtration Stages: Micron Ratings At Different Stages
A complete industrial water filtration system generally has a few stages of water filtration. The primary stage will filter out bigger particles first, while the consequent stages will filter out smaller particles. Usually, the deeper the filtration stage, the smaller the filter’s micron rating. To make this simple, let’s use an example of a two-stage filtration system.
Stage 1: Primary Filtration (10 Microns)
Primary-stage filtration is used for the purpose of removing larger particles in the water before allowing the water to flow into the second-stage filtration. Its purpose is to reduce the burden of second-stage filtration, allowing it to focus the filtration power on smaller particles.
Stage 2: Second Stage Filtration
In the second stage, filters with smaller micron ratings are used to further refine and remove smaller particles in the water. This filtration stage removes particles such as bacteria and viruses, ensuring the water is at it’s desired pureness. Usually, water in this stage can be consumed safely and also used for medical reasons.
What Micron Rating Do I Need For Normal Business Use?
In summary, 10 micron filters will be sufficient for daily business activities (For non drinking purposes). For niche industries like medical and water treatment, they will require Ultrafiltration Filters.
Alan Loo – PureGen Water Sdn Bhd
Normal Business Use
In Malaysia, businesses mainly use water for cleaning purposes such as Hotels, Constructions and etc. The water that is used for cleaning purposes does not need to go through major filtration processes as it does not require such pure water. Using purified water for cleaning purposes is not cost-efficient and is also a waste of resources.
Businesses that use a small amount of water can consider an outdoor water filter like PureGen Water Guard Sand Filter.
Businesses that uses a big amount of water can consider Deep Bed Filtration System.
Industry Specific Uses
For niche industries such as medical or water treatment industries, they will need ultra-pure water that filters out harmful organisms such as bacteria and viruses. In this case, there are several options to choose from
Ultrafiltration
Ultrafiltration usually has a micron rating of 0.01, which is the size of a virus. It can effectively remove microorganisms that are in the water to prevent contamination. Ultrafiltration is usually used for drinking water, but there is also an industry version.
Ultraviolet Disinfection System
Another solution that does not directly involve filtration is using UV disinfection systems. UV disinfection systems are able to kill germs, bacteria and viruses using UV light. This method ensures that the water does not lose it’s minerals and taste while eliminating contaminants in the water.
Aqualight UV Disinfection System is commonly used in industries in Malaysia, supplied by PureGen Water.
Absolute vs Nominal Micron Rating
There are 2 ways to justify a filter’s micron rating, which are
- Absolute Rating – 99.9% of the particles larger than the stated micron size will not pass through the water filter
- Nominal Rating – It provides an estimated range of the stated particle size that can pass through the filter
Absolute Rating
Absolute micron rating is the exact size of the biggest particle that is able to fit through the water filter, provided you follow the instructions given. Filters that have absolute micron ratings are usually of higher quality as they use high-end materials and bespoke construction.
These ensure that the water filters are able to perform at their peak consistently, which results in higher price tags as compared to its same-category competitors. However, in many cases, businesses are willing to pay for the performance it produces.
Nominal Rating
Nominal ratings can be seen as an estimation, particles that are bigger than the stated micron rating might be able to pass through. The reason behind not being able to give an absolute rating is because of the materials and construction method.
When using a water filter with a nominal rating, you will have to consider its efficiency rating as well, usually presented at a 1-100% scale. Efficiency rating is technically the “chances” of the water filter allowing particles larger than the stated micron rating to pass through. An example would be like this :
90% E.R. 10 Micron Filter - The water filter is able to stop 90% of particles larger than 10 microns to pass through the water filter.
Conclusion
Micron ratings are very crucial considerations in choosing your water filter. It determines how powerful your filtration power is. However, sometimes there is no need for such powerful filters for your businesses as well. If you are lost or would love to get a free consultation session with us, please leave your contact details below :