Abstract: A ceramic filter is prepared by mixing together a ceramic powder, a pore forming agent, and any sintering aids required in the sintering of the ceramic powder, forming a tape from the mixture, and molding filter plates from the tape. Two types of annular disk filter plates are formed. A first plate type has an opening on the external annular surface, and a second plate type has an opening on the internal annular surface. The two types of filter plates are stacked in an alternating fashion, and end pieces are added to form a filter assembly. The assembly is sintered to form a filter. The pore forming agent is preferably polystyrene microspheres that are decomposed during the sintering process, leaving porosity that effectively captures particulate impurities when a fluid is passed through the filter in service.