Final answer:
Vacuum filtration is used to remove solid contaminants from a product. An example of a contaminant removed would be sand particles from water. For microbial removal, membrane filters with a pore size of 0.2 µm are used for bacteria, but smaller pore sizes are needed to filter out viruses.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of filtration using vacuum filtration is to remove contaminants from a product. During the vacuum filtration process, a porous medium, such as a membrane filter, is used to separate solid contaminants from a liquid. For instance, if you are filtering a heterogeneous mixture like sand and water, the sand particles would remain on the filter, while the water passes through. With respect to vacuum filtration, this method is particularly effective for larger volumes, where the solution is drawn through the filter by connecting the unit to a vacuum.
When considering membrane filters for removing microbes, filters with an effective pore size of 0.2 µm are typically used to remove bacteria. Membrane filtration can also be employed for heat-sensitive solutions in the laboratory to prevent thermal degradation during sterilization procedures.
Regarding the removal of viruses using membrane filtration, a filter pore size typically needs to be smaller than 0.2 µm as most viruses are smaller than this size. Therefore, a 0.2-µm filter would not likely remove viruses from a solution, and a filter with smaller pore sizes would be necessary for effective viral removal.