Microfiltration is a filtration process that uses membranes with pore sizes typically ranging from 0.1 to 10 micrometers. It effectively removes suspended solids, bacteria, and some larger viruses from liquids, making it useful in various applications, including water treatment and food processing. This technique operates at low pressures and is often used as a pre-treatment step before more advanced filtration methods, such as ultrafiltration or reverse osmosis. By improving the quality of the feed water, microfiltration helps enhance the efficiency and lifespan of downstream processes.