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Filter Selection Guide
Filter Selection Guide
The scientific filtration market consists of a large variety of applications, materials, methodologies, restrictions, limitations, and products. If you are relatively new to these processes, the sheer number of options can be daunting, to say the least. However, when you break down the individual requirements of your specific application with a few basic guidelines, the options start to pare down quickly.
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1
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2
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3
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Step 1
Macro, Micro, Ultra, and Nano Filtration
Before you get started, you should have a good idea of what you are filtering and what you hope to achieve with the filtration process. With that base understanding, you can segment your process into either macro, micro, ultra, or nano filtration. These are just fancy ways to classify particle size, helping to narrow down the right filter type.
Each of these terms, while related to the size of particles, also has numerical values that help fine-tune the process. There is some overlap between these segments, but they serve as a good starting point.
Macrofiltration
> 10 µm The process of removing particles that are typically visible to the naked eye.
Microfiltration
0.1 – 10 µm Removing suspended solids, bacteria, and larger colloids from a solution.
Ultrafiltration
0.001 – 0.1 µm Separating macromolecules, viruses, and proteins from a solution.
Nanofiltration
0.001 – 0.01 µm Removing divalent ions, low-molecular-weight organics, and smaller viruses. A pressure-driven process that separates particles based on both size and charge.
Below is a chart illustrating the relative sizes of various particles to help you better visualize the filtration scale.
| Particle Size Range | Example Particles |
|---|---|
| 0.001 – 0.01 µm | Welding Soot, Combustion Fumes, Carbon Dots, Colloidal Gold, Diesel Exhaust |
| 0.01 – 0.1 µm | Parvovirus, Poliovirus, Tobacco Smoke, Ultrafine Oil Mist, Cerium Dioxide |
| 0.1 – 1.0 µm | Poxviruses, Bacteria, Atmospheric Dust, Lead Dust, Asbestos Fibers |
| 1.0 – 10.0 µm | Coal Dust, Mold Spores, Mist and Fog Droplets, Fine Wood Dust |
| > 10.0 µm | Red Blood Cells, Pollen, Fine Sand, Polystyrene Beads, Penicillium Spores |
Step 2
Filtrate, Retentate, Clarification, and Solids Recovery
After understanding what you are looking for and its relative size, you can begin to think about the filtration process itself. Do you want to remove your target particles from the solution, or do you want to remove everything but your target?
Clarification
If you want to remove unwanted pollutants or particles, you will use a clarification process. The desired product is the filtrate (or permeate) — the solution that passes through the membrane.
Desired product: FiltrateSolids Recovery
If your desired result is to recover the target particles, pass your solution through a membrane to retain target particles on the membrane. The resulting collection is the retentate (or filter cake).
Desired product: RetentateStep 3
Chemical Compatibility
In many scientific, chemical, or pharmaceutical applications, it's possible to encounter chemicals that may react with filtration materials. To prevent a hazardous reaction or the destruction of key samples, it's important to understand that some filtration media offer exceptional chemical resistance, while others may decay or degrade if exposed to an incompatible solution.
With millions of possible chemical compounds and solutions, it would be impractical to provide a comprehensive list of compatible uses for each membrane type. It is highly recommended to have several resources at hand to verify compatibility before performing any filtration process that could compromise the health and safety of laboratory personnel or the efficacy of your samples.
Cross-reference any chemical properties with trusted online resources, Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and chemical compatibility charts. Our Material Compatibility Chart provides a basic overview of which membrane materials are compatible with various acids, bases, ketones, alcohols, esters, organic oxides, and other substances.
Step 4
Volume and Load Characteristics
Next, examine the total volume of material to be filtered and the particle load. These two factors have a significant impact on which filter format is most appropriate for your application.
Volume
Small volumes (< 10 mL) are best handled by syringe filters. Larger volumes require capsule filters, membrane filters with vacuum equipment, or cartridge filters. Very large volumes may require tangential flow filtration (TFF) systems.
Particle Load
High particle loads can quickly clog a fine membrane. In these cases, use a coarser pre-filter upstream to extend the life of the fine filtration membrane and maintain adequate flow rate throughout the process.
Step 5
Filter Type Selection
Once you have defined your filtration scale, process goal, chemical compatibility requirements, and volume, you can begin selecting a specific filter type. Tisch Scientific offers a full range of filter formats to cover every application.
Syringe Filters
Ideal for small volumes (up to ~100 mL). Attach directly to a syringe for fast, simple filtration of aqueous or organic samples.
Shop Syringe Filters →Membrane Filters
Disc filters used with vacuum filtration equipment. Available in a wide range of materials and pore sizes for laboratory-scale applications.
Shop Membrane Filters →Capsule Filters
Self-contained inline filters for larger volumes. No separate housing required — simply connect inline in your process stream.
Shop Capsule Filters →Cartridge Filters
High-throughput filters for production-scale applications. Installed in a reusable housing and designed for continuous flow processes.
Shop Cartridge Filters →Hollow Fiber Filters
Used in tangential flow filtration (TFF) for concentration, diafiltration, and large-scale cell harvest or protein purification.
Shop Hollow Fiber Filters →Centrifugal Filter Tubes
Spin-column format for concentrating and buffer-exchanging small protein or nucleic acid samples using a centrifuge.
Shop Centrifugal Filters →Step 6
Membrane Material Selection
The membrane material determines chemical compatibility, protein binding characteristics, and wettability. Below is a summary of the most common membrane materials and their recommended applications.
| Material | Abbrev. | Best For | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polytetrafluoroethylene | PTFE | Aggressive solvents, acids, bases, gases. Hydrophobic — ideal for non-aqueous applications. | Aqueous solutions without pre-wetting with alcohol |
| Polyvinylidene Difluoride | PVDF | Low protein binding. Aqueous and mild organic solvents. Western blotting, protein filtration. | Strong bases, ketones |
| Polyethersulfone | PES | Aqueous biological solutions. Very low protein binding. Sterile filtration of culture media. | Strong acids, ketones, DMF |
| Cellulose Acetate | CA | Aqueous solutions, biological fluids. Low protein binding. General sterile filtration. | Organic solvents, strong acids/bases |
| Regenerated Cellulose | RC | Aqueous and mild organic solvents. HPLC sample prep. Low extractables. | Strong acids, chlorinated solvents |
| Nylon | — | Aqueous and polar organic solvents. HPLC sample prep. General laboratory use. | Strong acids, strong bases — high protein binding |
| Polypropylene | PP | Aggressive chemicals, acids, and bases. Low extractables. Gas filtration. | Aromatic and chlorinated solvents |
| Glass Fiber | GF | Pre-filtration of high-particulate samples. High flow rates. Protein-free filtration. | Not suitable as a sterile barrier — pore size is inconsistent |
Step 7
Pore Size Selection
Once the membrane material is selected, the final variable is pore size. The correct pore size depends entirely on the target particle or organism you need to retain or remove.
0.1 µm
Mycoplasma removal from cell culture media and biological solutions requiring the highest sterility assurance.
0.2 / 0.22 µm
Standard sterile filtration. Removes bacteria and most microorganisms. The most widely used pore size in biological and pharmaceutical applications.
0.45 µm
General clarification, HPLC sample preparation, and water quality testing. Removes larger bacteria and particulates while maintaining good flow rates.
1.0 µm
Pre-filtration and coarse clarification of high-particulate samples prior to fine filtration.
5.0 µm and above
Macrofiltration — removing large visible particles, cell debris, or used as a pre-filter in a multi-stage filtration system.
Still unsure which pore size or membrane material is right for your application? Try the Filter Finder tool for a guided recommendation, or call our technical team at 1-877-238-8214.