Chapter 2 - History of Filtration

Abstract

This chapter reviews the origins of filtration and looks at what has driven, and what has enabled, filtration technology, and its supporting industry, to develop to the present day. The word filter itself was in use in the English language from as early as the fourteenth century and is related to the Latin word for felt. The use of solid–liquid separation and filtration started with small-scale water purification and, later, the preindustrial production of foods, dyes, beers, and wines. During this time, most filtration duties could be fulfilled using pots and simple cloths. With the Industrial Revolution came the need for, and the means to produce, large-scale solid–liquid filtration. The development in filtration technology has been both driven by need and enabled by the availability of technologies. In particular, developments in cloth, manufacturing design and precision, material science, and control/automation have produced great advances in the past few decades. Today, the drivers of the process industries—population growth and urbanization—are stronger than ever, as are the demands placed upon these industries in terms of environmental protection.