Question

what are three (or more) reasons why you would want to filter-sterilize something as opposed to heat sterilize it?

Answer 1

Heating and filtration are two methods of physical sterilization. In heat sterilization we use dry heat ( e.g oven) and wet heat (e.g autoclave) sterilization, and in filtration we use filter as for sterilization purpose.

1) Filter sterilization is used in case of heat sensitive media components like vitamins,antibiotics as heat sterilization can lead to deterioration of these components at high temprature.

2) filtration can filter large volume of fluid in less time compared to the heat sterilization.

3) other advantage to prefer filter sterilization is that filters are cheap and inexpensive . we do not require costly equipment like autoclave is required in heat sterilization. so filter sterilization is a cost effective method.

of these all reasons main reason is because of heat sensitive components we use filter sterilization because if we heat sterilize they will be distortion of them.