Bioscience Filtration Guide | Tisch Scientific

Filtration in Bioscience

Filtration supports nearly every bioscience workflow, from cell culture and diagnostics to DNA, RNA, and protein work. Pick your workflow below, or read on for how to choose the right filter.

How filtration is used in bioscience

Bioscience filtration generally falls into three processes. Matching the right pore size, membrane, and equipment to each one keeps results accurate and reproducible.

0.22 µm or smaller

Purification & Sterilization

Buffers and media pass through a 0.22 µm or smaller membrane that removes microorganisms and contaminants. Hydrophilic, low protein binding PES and PVDF are the usual choice.

ShopSyringe Filters Membrane Filters Capsule Filters

Ultrafiltration

Concentration & Storage

Protein, DNA, and RNA samples are often dilute in buffer. Concentrating them by ultrafiltration improves stability and saves storage space.

ShopCytiva Pall

Vacuum-assisted

Isolation

A vacuum draws buffer through a membrane that retains the material you need, ready for growing cultures or direct examination.

ShopMembrane Filters Vacuum Manifolds

Popular products for bioscience

Looking for something else? Browse all syringe filters, membrane filters, or the full catalog.

Quick reference

Open a section when you need it.

Which membrane should I use?PES, PVDF, cellulose acetate, MCE, nylon, and PTFE compared

Common membranes used in bioscience filtration
Membrane	Character	Best for	Keep in mind
PES	Very low binding	Sterile filtration of media, buffers, and protein solutions	Fast flow rates; check compatibility with organic solvents
PVDF	Very low binding	Protein samples and HPLC sample prep	Use the hydrophilic version for aqueous samples
Cellulose Acetate	Very low binding	Tissue culture media and protein solutions	Best suited to aqueous samples
MCE	Higher binding	Microbiological analysis and retaining cells or particles on the membrane	Not ideal when you need to recover protein from the filtrate
Nylon	Higher binding	General aqueous and organic sample prep	Avoid for low-concentration protein samples
PTFE	Hydrophobic	Organic solvents and gas venting	Needs pre-wetting for aqueous samples; usually not the first choice for biological buffers

Not sure about a specific solvent? Check the chemical compatibility chart.

Which pore size do I need?From 0.1 µm mycoplasma reduction to prefiltration

0.1 µm
Mycoplasma reductionFor media and sera where mycoplasma contamination is a concern.
0.2 / 0.22 µm
Sterile filtrationThe standard for sterilizing buffers, media, and other heat-sensitive solutions.
0.45 µm
Clarification and general prepRemoves particulates before analysis, including HPLC sample prep and microbiological testing.
0.8 µm and up
PrefiltrationProtects your final filter when samples are viscous or heavily loaded.

Pick the largest pore size that still does the job. Going smaller than needed slows flow and clogs filters faster.

Which filter format fits my volume?Syringe, membrane, or capsule by sample size

Filter format by sample volume
Sample volume	Recommended format	Shop
Up to about 10 mL	13mm syringe filter	Syringe Filters
About 10 to 100 mL	25mm syringe filter	Syringe Filters
Larger batches	Membrane filter with a vacuum setup	Membrane Filters
Process volumes	Inline capsule filter	Capsule Filters

Volumes are typical ranges. Viscous or heavily loaded samples may need a larger format or a prefilter.

Bioscience filtration FAQs

What pore size do I need for sterile filtration?

Use a 0.2 or 0.22 µm filter for sterile filtration of buffers, media, and other heat-sensitive solutions. For biological samples, pair it with a hydrophilic, low protein binding membrane such as PES, PVDF, or cellulose acetate.

Which membrane has the lowest protein binding?

PES, PVDF, and cellulose acetate all have very low protein binding, which makes them good choices when you need to recover proteins from the filtrate. Nylon and MCE bind more protein.

Can I use a PTFE filter for aqueous samples?

PTFE is hydrophobic, so water will not pass through it unless the membrane is pre-wetted, usually with an alcohol. For aqueous biological samples, a hydrophilic membrane is usually the simpler choice.

Do you carry sterile syringe filters?

Yes. Tisch Scientific carries both sterile and nonsterile syringe filters. Each product listing shows whether that item is sterile.

Can you quote a full lab supply list or a custom filter?

Yes. Send us your supply list and we will quote everything we can. We also quote custom filtration products for non-standard specs.