An ultrafiltration system primarily removes what from wastewater?

An ultrafiltration system is designed to effectively remove suspended solids from wastewater. This process involves using a membrane with pore sizes typically ranging from 1 to 100 nanometers, which allows it to filter out particles larger than the membrane's pore size. As a result, suspended solids, which include particles like silt, clay, and organic matter, are trapped by the membrane while allowing water and smaller molecules to pass through.

This technology is especially useful in treating wastewater where the removal of suspended solids is critical for complying with environmental standards and protecting subsequent treatment processes. Other types of contaminants, like dissolved chemicals and organic compounds, may not be adequately removed by ultrafiltration, because these substances can be smaller than the membrane pores. Microorganisms can also vary in size, and while some may be trapped, ultrafiltration is primarily focused on solid particles rather than living organisms.