Laboratory Essentials: Why Use Syringe Filters?
Syringe filters are single-use membrane-based filters that are highly important in sample preparation processes. These help remove particulate impurities from liquid and gas samples in applications including HPLC, ion chromatography, and gas chromatography. Made from chemically inert and solvent-resistant materials, syringe filters are capable of effectively filtering contaminants that could potentially clog instruments. Because clogging is prevented, lab instruments are protected against damages, therefore extending their service life.
In HPLC analysis, column packing is usually blocked by small sample impurities, affecting application process and results. Syringe filters come into play here as these help in removing particle contaminants, making them an integral part of the sample pretreatment process. These syringe filters also come with rigid and large surface areas offering small retention capacity and low resistance, maintaining high flux even when dealing with samples that are difficult to filter.
Designed to pre-filter samples and solvents for overall better application results, syringe filters play a vital role in eliminating complex and time-consuming sample preparation work including particle removal, liquid and gas bactericidal filtration, clarification, and more.
Tips on Syringe Filter Use
Syringe filters are handy in the laboratory, as explained above. But when using syringe filters for routine lab applications, take note of the following precautions to ensure absolute safety.
1. Moreover, because syringe filters are usually disposable and are used for several experimental procedures like environmental testing, conventional QC testing, removal of protein sediment, dissolution determination, users have to be keen on preventing contamination. Seal syringe filters after use for proper waste disposal.
2. Handle syringe filters with caution, as the filter film can easily break and lose its filtering effect if not handled with care. Different syringe filters come in diverse types, ranging from cellulose acetate to polyethersulfone (PES), and each has varying characteristics when it comes to chemical compatibility, flow rate, and burst pressure or strength, among others. So make sure that your chosen filter suitably matches your corresponding application. If the sample solution is an organic phase, an organic filter film must be used. If working with water phase, then employ a water phase special filter film. Verify the pigment filter membrane by experimenting, and choose the filter film that will not absorb all pigments.
3. Do not reverse the inlet and outlet while inserting the filter into the syringe. The liquid inlet is the mouth on the pipe filter's bottom plate, and the clean liquid output is the pipe at the filter element socket.
4. When the filter element is inserted into the mouth, it must be in a vertical position. To buckle the fin, push the back pressure plate down and twist the screw without moving it. Note that if the filter isn't properly placed, there could be leaks and the syringe filter won't be able to effectively remove unwanted particles.
5. Be sure to open the syringe filter's discharge switch to allow liquid samples to fill the cylinder; Otherwise, leakage will occur and the filtration process will be compromised.
Why Choose Membrane Solutions’ Syringe Filters
It is ideal to use good-quality syringe filters in the lab for efficient sample preparation processes and overall optimal application results. Membrane Solutions offers premium syringe filters with polypropylene (PP) housing that are all manufactured following ISO9001 standards, and in certified cleanroom environment settings using the latest manufacturing technologies. MS syringe filters, preferred in filtering HPLC and GC samples, offer the following features:
1. Certified High-Quality
MS syringe filters are all HPLC-certified and medical-grade polypropylene is used for all wetted surfaces.