Filtration in Pore Networks

In liquid filtration, a particulate-laden feed solution is passed through a porous material (the filter), often a membrane, designed to capture the particulate matter. Usually, the filter has a complex interior structure of interconnected pores, through which the feed passes, and in many cases of interest, it may be reasonable to approximate this interior structure as a network of interconnected tubes. This idea, which dates back about 70 years, greatly simplifies the modeling and simulation of the filtration process. In this article, we review the use of networks as a framework for modeling and investigating filtration, describing the key ideas and milestones. We also discuss some promising areas for future development of this field, particularly concerning the design of next-generation filters.