*3.1.1.1 Microfiltration*

Microfiltration (MF) employs a sieving mechanism to retain macromolecules or particles larger than 0.1 μm, or more specifically, in the range of 0.1–10 μm [45]. Unlike ultrafiltration (UF), reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF), the transmembrane pressure (TMP) for both sides of the membrane is low as a result of the retention of smaller particles. Thus MF requires a relatively small TMP, that is, lower than 2 bars but it may vary from 0.1 to 2 bar [47]. Larger pore sizes of MF membranes limit the removal of suspended solids, bacteria, viruses, protozoan cysts and on a lesser extent, organic colloids within the region [48].
