A fibrous filter is a common cleaning device often used to remove particle from industrial gas streams. The main question that often arises concerns the evolution of the pressure drop and the filtration efficiency during the filter clogging. The increase of pressure drop and filter efficiency was measured and was linked to both the clogging degree inside the filter bed and the deposit structure observed thanks to scanning electron micrograph. We have also studied the influence of various parameters such as air velocity, particle size, aerosol concentration and filter main characteristics. An empirical equation for predicting the pressure drop across the filter as a function of inverse particle diameter and Cunningham correction factor was suggested without considering the particle density in the cellulose paper filter. The values of porosity, obtained from the pressure drop responses of loading in the paper filter using Rudnick and First equation, were compared with other researchers. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.