Use of filterability index in granular filtration: effect of filter medium type, size and shape

What is it about?

The usefulness and validity of the Ives’ FI have not been studied to a satisfactory extent so far in the literature. It is therefore still not clear if this index can serve as a simple and inexpensive measure of filtration effectiveness in a capacity similar to that served by the jar test for coagulation and sedimentation. This study focuses on the applicability of the Ives FI concept to the comparison of crushed glass and sand media.

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Why is it important?

While the Ives’ FI has become popular for educational purposes, it has not been used to a significant extent in full-scale applications, as for example the jar test is used for coagulant selection for sedimentation. One reason for this may be that the validity and range of applicability of this index have not been sufficiently demonstrated. The present work shows that the Ives’ Index yields reasonable results with a small effort compared to pilot-scale testing. We recommend future research to evaluate the applicability and extent of usefulness of this test.