So you’re looking for membrane filters and syringe filters for you and your team’s application, but you’re not sure which to choose.
There are factors to consider when choosing the appropriate filter. One of those factors is filter pore size. This guide is to help you understand filter pore size and how to choose the right filter for your application.
What are Membrane Filters?
Membrane filters are a part of all living things. Our skin is a membrane keeping our organs safe from the outside world. And all of our organs have membranes protecting them as well. The first synthetic membranes made for scientific use that were commercially available were created in 1918. In 1950 applications for membrane filters outside the laboratory started to be found.
A membrane filter is a porous layer to keep contaminants out and isolate bacteria and subjects from samples. They are effective for filtration and sterilization purposes.
Why is Filter Pore Size Important?
Filter pore size determines what size particles can pass through or be caught by the membrane filter. Knowing the retention rate of your membrane filter is imperative to knowing what filter is best for your work.
Syringe filters that are 0.22 micrometers (µm) are primarily used to capture and prevent bacteria from coming into contact with your sample. Their sterilizing quality makes them ideal in applications where precise filtration is needed.
Syringe filters at are 0.45 micrometers (µm) are primarily used to recover bacteria and microorganisms from samples. These filters can be used to recover larger contaminants as well.
Our 0.22 membrane filters are also primarily used to capture and prevent bacteria from coming into contact with your sample. Our membrane filters can serve a wide variety of purposes and applications
Our 0.45 membrane filters are primarily used to recover bacteria and microorganisms. Just like our 0.45 syringe filters these filters can also be used to recover larger contaminants.
Choosing between a 0.22 and 0.45 filter comes down to the retention rate or particle retention that is needed for your application. A 0.22 filter is well suited for sterilization purposes. A 0.45 filter is well suited for recovering bacteria and microorganisms from samples.
Finding the correct filter pore size for you and your team’s application is easy with our faceted navigation tool.
What Else Needs to Be Considered?
So you know what filter pore size you need for your application, what else needs to be considered? If you are unsure what filter media to use we have a helpful guide here.
Choosing the correct membrane filter for your application can be a difficult process without the correct tools. Here at Tisch Scientific we have everything you need to choose the correct filter membrane. If you have any more questions our friendly customer service team would also be able to help you.