There are certain situations that require various particles to be removed from the solvents. Removing these particles is necessary in order to prevent damage to the equipment or to prevent compromising of any tests. For this, the best-suited membrane syringe filters are to be selected. CA syringe filter provides an array of selections to choose from. Some handy tips for selecting the correct membrane syringe filter for your use are highlighted below:

Select the Right Filter Body

The body of the filter is important and must be considered before selecting the filter. The polypropylene body is disposable and can be used once. Polycarbonate and a stainless steel material are reusable. It depends upon the situation whether to use the disposable or the reusable ones.

Filter Size is the Key

Selecting the right size of the filter increases the chances of the success of the filtration process. The right size of the filter will ensure that the complete volume of the solvent in the syringe is filtered properly. Depending upon the solvent’s volume, the size of the filter must be selected. Improper size will be incapable of filtering the complete volume of the solvent.

Select the Most Appropriate Membrane Porosity

The pore size of the membrane is important. If there is a requirement of filtration of very small particles, small pore sizes are required and vice versa. Membrane filters come in different pore sizes ranging from 0.1μm to 0.45μm. Selecting the right size will ensure successful filtration. Pressure is another point to keep in mind. The smaller the porosity the higher will be the pressure required for filtering the solvents.

Type of Membrane

The membranes are made up of different materials and that is the point of distinguishing them. Each membrane type is used for filtering the different type of solvent. Thus, you must always select that membrane type on the basis of the type of solvent to be filtered. There are different types of membranes which can be selected including Cellulose Acetate, Cellulose Nitrate, Glass Microfiber, Nylon, PP, PVDF, and PTFE. The material of each membrane type has different filtration properties that must be studied properly.

Hold-Up Volume

The hold-up volume is the amount of particle build-up that the filter can accommodate after filtration. The residue blocks the pores and makes the usable area smaller. For the larger volume of solvents or solvents containing more particles, filter with the larger hold-up volume must be chosen. Thus, hold-up volume of the filter must be known before using it for filtration.

Check the Inertness

The membrane filters are said to be inert in nature. The inertness is required as the reaction with the membrane filter can result in faulty experimentation. Thus, checking the inertness of membrane materials before filtration is a wise choice.

There are various types of membrane syringe filters that can filter the unwanted particles from the solvents. The only thing is to choose the right one for the job. The above tips can come handy while selecting these filters. CA syringe filter is used most often as they have excellent flow rates.