The fine suspended solids are physically prevented from moving through the micron filter by screening them out with very small pores by trapping them within the filter matrix.
Micron or sub-micron filtration, one micron is about 1/100 the diameter of a human hair. filter that removes particles down to 5 microns will produce fairly clean-looking water, but most of the water parasites, bacteria, cryptosporidia, giardia, etc. will pass through the pores. A filter must trap particles one micron or smaller to be
effective at removing cryptosporidia or giardia cysts. Viruses cannot be effectively removed by any filtration method.
A benefit of micron filtration systems, that is, they require no electricity to filter the water, and normal home water pressure is used to force the water though the filter. The only routine maintenance required is periodic replacement of the filtration element.
Micron filters contain cellulose, rayon or polypropylene material spun into a mesh with small pores.
Suspended sediment (or turbidity) is removed as water pressure forces water through tightly wrapped fibers. Some small organic particles that cause disagreeable odors and taste may also be removed. These filters come in a variety of sizes and meshes from fine to coarse, with the lower micron rating being the finer. The finer the filter, the more particles are trapped and the more often the filter must be changed.
Fiber filters are often used as pre-filters to reduce the suspended contaminants that could clog carbon or RO filters or affect UV radiation in disinfection process.
Fiber filters will not remove contaminants that are dissolved in the water, like chlorine, lead, mercury, trihalomethanes or other organic compounds.
