What is the difference between absolute and nominal?
Nominal filter ratings are an arbitrary value, indicating a particulate size range at which the filter manufacturer claims the filter removes some percentage. Nominal ratings vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and cannot be used to compare filters among manufacturers. Processing conditions such as operating pressure and concentration of contaminant have a significant effect on the retention efficiency of the nominally-rated filters.
Absolute filter ratings are a value associated with a filter that represents the size of the smallest particle completely retained. Complete retention is within the experimental uncertainty of a standard test method consistent with the intended filter use. Among the test conditions that must be specified are test organism (or particle size), challenge pressure, concentration, and detection method used to identify the contaminant
https://laboratory.pall.com/content/dam/pall/laboratory/literature-library/non-gated/id-36916.pdf
The absolute rating shouldn't be confused with the largest particle passed by a filter under operating conditions: the absolute rating simply determines the size of the largest glass bead which will pass through the filter under very low pressure differentials and nonpulsating conditions.
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