Filtrate vs. Residue — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 22, 2023
Filtrate is the liquid that has passed through a filter, removing solid impurities. Residue is the solid material left behind in the filter after the filtration process.
Difference Between Filtrate and Residue
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Filtrate and residue are two terms often encountered in the fields of chemistry and engineering, particularly in processes involving filtration. Filtrate is the substance that emerges after a liquid has been filtered to remove solid impurities. On the other hand, residue is the solid material that is left behind on the filter surface after the filtration process is complete.
Both filtrate and residue can be critical to scientific analyses and industrial applications. Filtrate is often the focus when you want to separate a specific liquid from a mixture, like obtaining pure water from wastewater. Residue can be the primary concern in situations where the solid components are the valuable or harmful components, such as in mining operations or environmental studies.
It's essential to understand that both filtrate and residue can have varying compositions depending on the filter used and the substance being filtered. For instance, a coffee filter yields a filtrate of brewed coffee while leaving a residue of coffee grounds. In a lab setting, a more precise filter might separate a chemical solution into its individual components.
Filtrate and residue are not exclusive to liquid-solid separations. In gas filtration systems, for example, the filtrate would be the cleaned gas, and the residue would be the trapped particles. Regardless of the state of matter involved, the terms serve to distinguish between what passes through the filter and what does not.
Comparison Chart
State of Matter
Usually liquid or gas
Usually solid
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Position
Passes through the filter
Remains on or in the filter
Importance
Focus when filtering liquids
Focus when collecting solids
Composition
Varies by filter and material
Varies by filter and material
Usage in Sentences
Often a noun or verb
Typically a noun
Compare with Definitions
Filtrate
Filtrate is the liquid or gas that has passed through a filter.
The filtrate was collected in a beaker for further analysis.
Residue
Residue refers to what is left over or unclaimed.
After the estate sale, there was some residue that went to charity.
Filtrate
Filtrate is the purified form of a substance after filtration.
The filtrate was free from any contaminants.
Residue
Residue is the unfiltered part of a substance.
The residue was disposed of as waste.
Filtrate
Filtrate is the output of a filtration process.
We measured the pH level of the filtrate.
Residue
Residue is the byproduct of a separation or chemical process.
The combustion left a residue of ash.
Filtrate
Filtrate is the material separated from residue during filtration.
The filtrate consisted mainly of water.
Residue
The remainder of something after removal of parts or a part.
Filtrate
To put or go through a filter.
Residue
Matter remaining after completion of an abstractive chemical or physical process, such as evaporation, combustion, distillation, or filtration; residuum.
Filtrate
Material, especially liquid, that has passed through a filter.
Residue
The part of a monomer or other chemical unit that has been incorporated into a polymer or large molecule.
Filtrate
The liquid or solution that has passed through a filter, and which has been separated from the filtride / filtrand
Residue
(Law) The remainder of a testator's estate after all specific bequests and applicable debts and expenses have been disposed of. Also called residuum.
Filtrate
To filter.
Residue
Whatever remains after something else has been removed.
Filtrate
To filter; to defecate; as liquid, by straining or percolation.
Residue
(chemistry) The substance that remains after evaporation, distillation, filtration or any similar process.
Filtrate
That which has been filtered; the liquid which has passed through the filter in the process of filtration. Contrasted with retentate, the material remaining on the filter.
Residue
(biochemistry) A molecule that is released from a polymer after bonds between neighbouring monomers are broken, such as an amino acid in a polypeptide chain.
Filtrate
The product of filtration; a gas or liquid that has been passed through a filter
Residue
(legal) Whatever property or effects are left in an estate after payment of all debts, other charges and deduction of what is specifically bequeathed by the testator.
Filtrate
Remove by passing through a filter;
Filter out the impurities
Residue
(complex analysis) A form of complex number, proportional to the contour integral of a meromorphic function along a path enclosing one of its singularities.
Filtrate
Filtrate is the substance devoid of the solid impurities originally present.
The filtrate obtained was much clearer than the original sample.
Residue
That which remains after a part is taken, separated, removed, or designated; remnant; remainder.
The residue of them will I deliver to the sword.
If church power had then prevailed over its victims, not a residue of English liberty would have been saved.
Residue
That part of a testeator's estate wwhich is not disposed of in his will by particular and special legacies and devises, and which remains after payment of debts and legacies.
Residue
That which remains of a molecule after the removal of a portion of its constituents; hence, an atom or group regarded as a portion of a molecule; a moiety or group; - used as nearly equivalent to radical, but in a more general sense.
Residue
Any positive or negative number that differs from a given number by a multiple of a given modulus; thus, if 7 is the modulus, and 9 the given number, the numbers -5, 2, 16, 23, etc., are residues.
Residue
Matter that remains after something has been removed
Residue
Something left after other parts have been taken away;
There was no remainder
He threw away the rest
He took what he wanted and I got the balance
Residue
Residue is the solid material left behind after a filtration process.
The residue remained on the filter paper.
Residue
Residue is the impurity separated from the filtrate.
The residue contained traces of metal.
Common Curiosities
Can filtrate and residue be further processed?
Yes, both can undergo additional treatments or analyses.
What is filtrate?
Filtrate is the liquid or gas that has passed through a filter.
What is residue?
Residue is the solid material left behind after a filtration process.
Is filtrate always a liquid?
No, it can also be a gas in some filtration systems.
Is the composition of filtrate and residue always the same?
No, it varies depending on the filter and material being processed.
Is residue always a solid?
Generally yes, but it can be a liquid in some specialized cases.
Can you give an everyday example of filtrate and residue?
In coffee brewing, the coffee liquid is the filtrate and the grounds are the residue.
Are filtrate and residue hazardous?
It depends on the substances being filtered; they could be safe or hazardous.
Where are these terms commonly used?
They are often used in chemistry, engineering, and environmental science.
What happens to the residue?
It may be collected for further use, analysis, or disposal.
Can both filtrate and residue be useful?
Yes, depending on the application, both could be valuable.
What equipment is usually needed for filtration?
Filters, funnels, and collecting vessels are commonly used.
How do you determine the quality of filtrate or residue?
Quality is often determined through further chemical or physical analyses.
How are filtrate and residue separated?
They are separated using a filter that allows the filtrate to pass through.
Do both terms apply only to scientific processes?
No, they can apply to everyday processes like water purification at home.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
