Filter Papers

Filter paper is a porous cellulose sheet used to separate solids from liquids by gravity or vacuum filtration, folding into a cone to fit standard laboratory funnels. It is one of the most common consumables in any lab, trapping particles above a certain size while letting the filtrate pass through cleanly.

SmartLabs stocks qualitative filter paper in South Africa across a range of grades, speeds, and disc diameters, from economical student grade packs for classroom practicals to finer, slow-filtering grades for laboratory and research work. Whatever your funnel size or filtration speed, this range covers routine gravity filtration, precipitate separation, and general-purpose lab filtering.

Filter paper cone in a funnel filtering liquid into a flask

What is filter paper?

Filter paper is a porous cellulose sheet used to separate solids from liquids by gravity or vacuum filtration. Folded into a cone and placed in a funnel, it traps particles above a certain size while letting the liquid, called the filtrate, pass through into the container below.

SmartLabs stocks qualitative filter paper in a range of grades and speeds, from fast general-purpose filtration through to fine, slow-filtering grades for trapping very small precipitates. Round discs in several diameters fit standard laboratory funnels, making filter paper one of the most-used consumables in any chemistry, biology, or general science lab.

Common uses of filter paper in the lab

A simple sheet of paper handles separation work across chemistry, biology, and general science.

  • Folding a filter paper into a cone before placing it in a funnel

    Standard gravity filtration

    Folded into a cone and seated in a funnel, filter paper is the everyday method for separating a solid from a liquid without any powered equipment.

  • Gravity filtering a precipitate through filter paper into a beaker

    Isolating precipitates

    A fine, slow-filtering grade traps small crystals and precipitates cleanly, separating the solid product from the surrounding solution for further analysis.

  • Student separating sand from water with filter paper in class

    Classroom separation practicals

    Simple filtration exercises, like separating sand from water, make filter paper a staple consumable in school science practicals.

  • Stack of qualitative filter paper discs in different sizes

    Matching paper to funnel size

    Filter paper discs come in several diameters, so every standard funnel size in the lab has a matching sheet on hand.

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