Membrane Filter Cartridges

Back in the 1980s the specialists of Technofilter were the first in Russia and the CIS to develop cartridge membrane filter elements based on Polyamide (Nylon-6).

Since then Technofilter significantly extended the range of membrane filter elements. At present Technofilter produces membrane elements based on Polyamide, Polyethersulfone, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Ftoroplast 42L, Lavsan (polyethylene terephthalate) and Cellulose Acetate.

The wide range of cartridge membrane filter elements makes it possible to find solutions to any problems involving preparation of sterile liquids (pH 1 to 14) and gases. 

Technofilter produces membrane filter elements mainly using its own filter tissue, making it possible to monitor product quality at all stages of the manufacturing process.

Technofilter's membrane filter elements are patented precision products manufactured in accordance with strict quality specifications.

All membrane cartridge elements washed from organic and mechanical contaminants with high-purity water (up to 300 litres per element) and 100% integrity tested using the most advanced instruments.

Washing, checking, drying and final assembly and packing are carried out in special class D and C clean areas (under the classification of clean rooms adopted in pharmaceutical industry) in accordance with EU GGMP (guidelines of the European Union on Good Manufacturing Practice).

Membrane filter elements are tested at regular intervals for bacterial and toxicological safety. Each filter element is identified by its individual number, lot number and the list of standard characteristics. These data are specified on the label of the product and in the product certificate and are stored in Technofilter's database. In addition, the number and the grade are specified on the outer perforated shell of the element.

Materials of construction of the filters were tested for biosafety, contain a minimum amount of extractables and are allowed for use in contact with intravenous solutions and food products.

The membrane filter elements withstand multiple sterilization with chemical reactants, γ-irradiation, autoclaving and in-line steaming and have certificates of conformance to safety standards for polymer products used in medicine as well as certificates issued by sanitary-and-epidemiologic institutions authorizing their use in food industry.

Applications

Cartridge membrane filter elements are intended for large-volume industrial filtration at the stages of prefiltration (removal of bioburden), clarification and sterilization.

Technofilter's cartridge membrane filter elements with pore sizes of 0.1 to 3 μm are pleated filters with a large surface area that afford, under certain conditions, ‘absolute' retention of particles in the specified pore size range. Unlike depth filters, the membrane filter elements mainly retain particles at the surface of the membrane.

Due to the stable structure of pores, membrane filters are mainly used as final (sterilizing) filters that can be integrity tested using special instruments.

Standard membrane filter cartridges are designed in the form of a cylinder 70 mm in diameter and 100 to 1000 mm long, as is customary in the international practice. Inside the cartridge is the filter package that incorporates one or two layers of pleated membrane between two layers of non-woven polypropylene fabric.

The filter package sealed at the edges by thermal bonding is interposed between two perforated polypropylene support shells that impart mechanical strength and thermal stability to the filter cartridge in the course of operation. The element is sealed at the butts of the filter pack with melted polypropylene. To the butts of the element, end parts are welded.

Depending on the type of the filter holder, elements can have various adapters. Two O-rings made of silicon rubber or, in the case of aggressive feeds, fluorine rubber are fitted on the adapter.

Characteristics and advantages of Technofilter's membrane filter elements

Technical and operating characteristics of membranes and cartridge filter elements are determined in accordance with regulations and specifications for the products, Russian and foreign standards and techniques adopted by Technofilter. All filter elements are 100% tested for air bubble point and diffusion. Performance characteristics are determined using Sartocheck-3, Sartocheck-2, Sartocheck-1000, Sartocheck-Junior, Palltronic-FF02, Palltronic-FF04, ЛАМ-2М, А3-6 and СФ-46 testers.

Geometrical characteristics of cartridge membrane elements

Materials of construction of filter elements

Grade	Removal Rating μm	Filter material	Application	Foto
EPM.K	0.1 0.2 0.45 0.65 0.8 1.0 1.2 3.0	hydrophilic Polyamide membrane (Nylon 6)	M - in medicine and biopharmaceutics: for removal of mechanical contaminants, clarification and sterilization of parenteral and ophthalmological solutions, antibiotics, cultural, bacterial and fermentative media, blood protein preparations, serum, biological preparations and vaccines, vitamin and galena preparations, water for injections.
			P - in beverage industry: for defertilization and cold sterilization of wine and beer, clarification of distillery products, polishing filtration of vodkas, final filtration of non-alcoholic beverages, mineral and bottled water, water for product formulations and rinsing water.
			E - in microelectronics, radio engineering and biochemistry: for final filtration of deionized water, photoresists, solvents and other media that are compatible with material of construction.
			In other industries: for fine filtration of liquid media from particles 0.1 μm or more in size.
EPM.K+	0.2 0.45	hydrophilic Polyamide membrane Nylon 6 with modified charge (Z potential)	M - in medicine and biopharmaceutics: prefiltration of injection and infusion solutions in combination with pyrogenicity control, sterilizing filtration of poorly seminated solutions, removal of mycoplasmas, bacterial endotoxins (pyrogens) and viruses from aqueous solutions, continuous sterile filtration in water treatment systems.
EPM.PS	0.2 0.45 0.65	hydrophilic Polyethersulfone membrane	M - in medicine and biopharmaceutics: fine and sterilizing filtration of parenteral preparations (LVP) having low or high pH levels, fine and sterilizing filtration of highly viscous media, including ophthalmological solutions, filtration of blood preparations, serums, protein-containing injection preparations, clarification and sterilization of large-volume aqueous, pharmaceutical and biological solutions containing large amounts of colloid particles, concentration of protein-containing solutions, filtration of buffer media, production of galena, filtration of process water (washing machines, filtration at points of use, apyrogenic water, highly purified laboratory water, return water).
			P - in beverage industry: defertilizing filtration of wines in the cold filling operation mode, cold sterilization of beer, final filtration (afterfiltration) of wines in the hot filling operation mode, polishing of vodkas, cognacs, coloured alcoholic beverages in the course of preparation for filling, final filtration of mineral waters, low alcohol and soft drinks.
			Other industries: fine filtration of liquid media to remove particles 0.2 μm or more in size.
EPM.Fg	0.15 0.25 0.45 0.65 0.8	hydrophilic membrane fluoroplastic (F42L)	M - in medicine and biopharmaceutics: for filtration of water at washing machine stations, for clarification and sterilization of solutions having low protein adsorption capacity.
			P - in beverage industry: for microbiological stabilization of wines, clarification and ‘polishing' of distillery products, at the final stage of water treatment.
			E - in microelectronics, radio engineering and biochemistry: for final filtration of deionized water, liquid and gaseous chemical media, including aggressive acids and alkalies, that are compatible with the material of construction of the element.
EPM.F4	0.2	hydrophobic membrane Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)	M (P,E) - Sterilizing filtration of air and gases that enter into critical contact with the product: in air supply systems, in storage tanks to create sterile breathing conditions, upstream of filling machines, at the points of entry and exit of bioreactors.  Sterile filtration of fermenters.  Sterile blowout of equipment.  Filtration of liquid aggressive media (acids, alkalies, solvents, process liquids) in the pH range 1 to 13.
EPM.F	0.15 0.25 0.45 0.65	hydrophobic membrane Fluoroplastic (F42L)	M - in medicine and biopharmaceutics: for fine and sterilizing filtration of compressed air, gas media, aggressive media and solvents.
			P - in food industry: for sterile filtration of process air, carbon dioxide and other gas media.
			E - in electronic, radio and chemical industries: for final filtration of gaseous chemical media, including aggressive acids and alkalies compatible with material of construction of the element.
EPM.L	0.2 0.4 0.6 1.0	membranes made of polyethyleneterephthalate (Lavsan)	Fine filtration of liquid and gases media  to remove particles 0.2 μm or more in size.