The Filtration Society Addresses Environmental Issues

It is surprising how often filtration and separation is perceived as a minority subject buried within mainstream disciplines such as Physics, Chemistry or Chemical Engineering. However there are very few areas where filtration does not play an active role. We only have to look in our kitchen to find filters for water, tea, coffee, extractor fans, air conditioning, clothes and dishwashers and even colanders for straining rice for example. On a larger industrial scale too, filters and separators are the most common plant in any process involving solids, whether the commodity in question is the solid or liquid phase. Of all the international seminars organised by The Filtration Society, the most well attended invariably cover filter testing, optimising filter efficiency/profitability and the importance of filtration in protecting the environment. All the aforementioned subjects are of course related. Industry can no longer dump waste into the environment, whether it be to atmosphere, water courses or landfill. A major thrust by The Filtration Society over the past two years has therefore been to highlight the latest environmental legislation and review the relevant problem solving technologies.