What process involves separating components of fluids by diffusing them through membranes?

The correct answer is dialysis because it specifically refers to the process of separating different components of fluids, particularly solutes, through a semipermeable membrane. This technique is commonly utilized in medical applications, such as in kidney dialysis, where waste products are removed from the blood when the kidneys are unable to do so effectively. In dialysis, substances pass across a membrane based on their concentration gradient, allowing for the selective separation of small molecules from larger ones.

While other processes like filtration, osmosis, and diffusion involve the movement of fluids or solutes, they do not encompass the specific mechanism of utilizing a semipermeable membrane for separation in the way that dialysis does. Filtration involves physical separation of particles from fluids, osmosis specifically describes the movement of water across a membrane, and diffusion refers to the movement of solute particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration without necessarily involving a membrane. Hence, dialysis stands out as the most precise term for the described process.