In ancient China, filtration technology has been used in production. In 200 BC, paper made of plant fiber has been produced. In 105 ad, Cai Lun improved the papermaking method.

In the process of papermaking, he swings the plant fiber pulp on the dense thin bamboo curtain. The water is filtered through the gap of the bamboo curtain, and a thin layer of wet pulp is left on the surface of the bamboo curtain, which becomes paper after drying.

In the early days, most of the filtration was gravity filtration. Later, pressurized filtration was used to improve the filtration speed, and then vacuum filtration appeared.

The rotary drum vacuum filter invented in the early 20th century realizes the continuity of filtration operation. Since then, various types of continuous filters have appeared one after another.

Intermittently operated filters (such as plate and frame filter press) have been developed because they can realize automatic operation, and the filtering area is becoming larger and larger. In order to obtain the filter residue with low moisture content, the filter of mechanical pressing has been developed.