Why do standard 0.2-micron mechanical hollow-fiber filters fail to remove viruses from water?
Answer
Viruses are significantly smaller than the 0.2-micron pore size of the filter
Mechanical filtration relies on the physical size of the pores in the membrane to block pathogens. While a 0.2-micron pore size is highly effective at stopping larger biological threats such as bacteria and protozoa, viruses are typically much smaller, often measuring around 0.02 microns. Because they are drastically smaller than the pore openings, viruses pass through these mechanical filters unimpeded, necessitating the use of additional purification methods or different technologies to address viral contamination.
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