Introduction
Capsule filters are self-contained, ready-to-use filtration units that integrate pleated filter cartridges within a sealed plastic housing. Designed for convenience, sterility, and ease of replacement, capsule filters are widely utilized in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and laboratory applications where cross-contamination must be avoided.
Structure Overview
- Housing: Made of polypropylene or other biocompatible plastics, pre-assembled and sealed to maintain sterility.
- Internal filter element: Usually a pleated membrane or multilayer media (PES, PTFE, PVDF, Nylon, or PP).
- Connectors: Available in hose barb, sanitary flange, or quick connections for easy inline installation.
- Vent and drain ports: Facilitate air removal and complete drainage after filtration.
Working Principle
The fluid passes through the inlet into the internal pleated filter core, where contaminants are retained according to pore size and filtration mechanism. Clean filtrate exits through the outlet, ready for downstream use. When integrated in sterile systems, capsule filters can be pre-sterilized and replaced as single-use devices.
Uses and Advantages
- Eliminates the need for filter housing cleaning and validation — complete disposable design.
- Pre-sterilized options ensure aseptic processing and contamination control.
- Compact and lightweight construction simplifies installation and handling.
- Compatible with various membrane types for different liquid or gas applications.
- Ideal for batch and small-scale filtration, sampling, and process validation.
Application Industries
- Pharmaceuticals: Sterile filtration of drug solutions, buffers, and intermediates.
- Biotechnology: Cell culture media, vaccines, and protein solutions.
- Laboratory and R&D: Sample filtration and device sterilization.
- Food & Beverage: Small-scale sterile liquid clarification.
- Electronics: Filtration of ultra-pure chemicals and cleaning fluids.
Key Features
- Pre-assembled and ready to use — reduces setup time.
- Single-use, disposable structure prevents cross-contamination.
- High flow rate and low pressure drop due to pleated internal cartridge design.
- Available in different sizes and connections for scalability.
- Validated for sterilization and integrity testing.
Conclusion
Capsule filters provide a simple, efficient, and contamination-free solution for sterile and single-use filtration processes. Their sealed design, compatibility with various membranes, and ease of integration make them indispensable components in modern pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
Purchase Suggestion
Contact our filtration specialists to learn more about capsule filter configurations, sterilization options, and application recommendations for your process.