# Filter cake

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A filter cake

A **filter cake** is formed by the [substances](/source/Chemical_substance) that are retained on a [filter](/source/Filter_(chemistry)). Filter aids, such as [diatomaceous earth](/source/Diatomaceous_earth) or [activated carbon](/source/Activated_carbon) are usually used to form the filter cake. The purpose is to increase flow rate or achieve a smaller micron filtration. The filter cake grows in the course of [filtration](/source/Filtration), becoming "thicker" as [particulate matter](/source/Particulate_matter) and filter aid is retained on the filter.

With increasing layer thickness, the [flow resistance](/source/Drag_(physics)) of the filter cake increases. After a time, the filter cake has to be removed from the filter, e.g. by backflushing. If this is not accomplished, the filtration is disrupted because the resistance of the filter cake gets too high; hence, too little of the mixture to be filtered can pass through the filter cake, and the filter becomes plugged or clogged. The specifications of the filter cake dictate the filtration method of choice.[1]

## See also

- [Filter press](/source/Filter_press)

- [Press cake](/source/Press_cake)

- [Tilting pan filter](/source/Tilting_pan_filter)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Technical Articles – BHS Filtration"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120601221206/http://www.bhs-filtration.com/technical/Selection-of-Filtration.pdf) (PDF). *www.bhs-filtration.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.bhs-filtration.com/technical/Selection-of-Filtration.pdf) (PDF) on 2012-06-01. Retrieved 2018-08-31.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Filter cake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_cake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filter_cake?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.