PTFE Capsule Filter

Filter media / membrane

High-porosity, high-strength hydrophobic PTFE microporous membrane with stable efficiency in both dry and humid service; it retains bacteria and phage in fermenter and sterile-packaging gas, and also handles low-surface-tension solvents and corrosive reagents

Support & drainage layers

Polypropylene support and drainage layers

Body material

One-piece polypropylene shell and end caps, thermally welded throughout with no adhesives; no metal parts in the wetted path

Seals / O-rings

The body is thermally welded and has no main O-ring; port gaskets in silicone or EPDM, with FKM available for aggressive fluids

Micron rating

0.001, 0.003, 0.01, 0.03, 0.2, 1.0 µm; 0.2 µm is the gas sterilising grade, while 0.001–0.03 µm serve particle control in process and specialty gases

Effective filtration area

≥ 0.74 m² per 10" media section; small capsules run about 0.02–0.2 m²

Inlet / outlet connections

Inlet/outlet 1/4"–1-1/2" with hose barb, sanitary tri-clamp, threaded and quick-connect options; the connections are moulded into the same polypropylene body

Hold-up volume

A hydrophobic membrane holds no liquid, so hold-up comes only from the shell: about 30 mL small, 90 mL mid and 250 mL for a 10" class body. On gas duty this volume affects purge time rather than product loss

Vent & drain

One polypropylene vent valve on top and one drain valve underneath, both hand-operated; the vent can take a hydrophobic membrane cap to keep the sterile boundary intact

Max operating temperature

Continuous service to 60 °C; withstands 121 °C saturated steam for sterilisation cycles

Max forward differential pressure

Forward 4.0 bar (58 psi) @ 25 °C; 1.0 bar (15 psi) @ 60 °C; reverse 2.0 bar (29 psi) @ 25 °C. On gas duty the housing design pressure may govern

Recommended change-out ΔP

A single-use capsule cannot be backwashed or regenerated. Change out when ΔP reaches 3–5× the clean initial value or 2.0 bar (29 psi), whichever comes first

Sterilisation

Autoclave at 121 °C for 30 min, up to 3 cumulative cycles recommended; steam-in-place, EtO and gamma sterilisation are also available

Wetting & flushing

The membrane will not wet with water, which is exactly what gas service needs: condensate cannot block the pores and flow holds up in humid duty. For liquid service, wet out first with an alcohol (or 60/40 IPA-water) and then displace stepwise with the process fluid

Extractables & cleanliness

Flushed with purified water to conductivity and TOC limits before shipment; extractables, endotoxin (< 0.25 EU/mL) and TOC batch data available on request

Integrity test

100% integrity tested before shipment; on site, wet out with 60/40 IPA-water for a bubble point — a 0.2 µm hydrophobic membrane typically bubbles at ≥ 1.0 bar (15 psi)

Packaging

Individually double-bagged, assembled and sealed in a cleanroom; gamma pre-sterilised units available

Regulatory & validation

Wetted materials meet USP Class VI biological reactivity and 21 CFR 177 food-contact requirements; material certificates and batch test reports can be supplied with the shipment

Note: actual compatibility and service life depend on chemical concentration, temperature, flow, differential pressure, upstream contamination load and housing design. Validate under your real process conditions.

Values shown are typical for this product class; actual supply specification follows the quotation and sample datasheet.