What Is Sterile Air and Gas Filtration?
Final or sterile air filtration removes microorganisms from air and other gases to protect contacted food and beverage products, ingredients, packaging and equipment surfaces from airborne microbial contamination. The selection criteria and sizing for these filters depends on filter type, required removal performance, gas type and process parameters including gas temperature, flow rate and supply pressure.
What Should You Look for in a Sterile Air Cartridge Filter?
Key considerations include:
- Validated microbial removal performance
- Hydrophobicity for unrestricted airflow
- Low resistance to airflow
- Durability during repeated steam sterilization
- Food contact compliance
How Is Microbial Removal Performance Validated?
Microbial validation is the historical method used to evaluate removal performance of sterile air cartridge filters. Users should focus on the validation methods used by filter manufacturers rather than filter media pore size ratings.
Validation methods include:
- Liquid bacterial challenge
- Aerosol bacterial challenge
- Aerosol spore challenge
- Bacteriophage challenge
Membrane Filters vs Depth Filters
There are two main types of air filters used in the food and beverage industry for sterile air filtration: membrane filters and depth filters. Important performance differences between these technologies are achievable microbial retention and achievable airflow.
PTFE membrane media
Why Are Membrane Filters Preferred for Critical Applications?
PTFE membrane filters provide excellent microorganism retention under both liquid and aerosol bacterial challenge conditions and are typically preferred for critical sterile air filtration applications.
Depth Filters
Depth filters are commonly used in dry air filtration applications and generally provide higher airflow than membrane cartridge filters
Emflon* Sterile Air Filter Options
Pall provides the Emflon* family of validated membrane cartridge filters to address critical air and gas sterilizing filtration requirements in the food and beverage industry.
Which Emflon Filter Is Right for Your Application?
| Filtration goal | Microbial challenge validation | Continuous operating temperature | Typical application | Product |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterilising air and gas | Liquid and aerosol | 60°C (140°F) | Critical applications across a range of airflow requirements | View Emflon* PFRW |
| Sterilising air and gas | Liquid and aerosol | 60°C (140°F) | Critical applications requiring higher airflow | View Emflon* PFW |
| Microbial reduction in air and gas | Aerosol | 60°C (140°F) | Microbial reduction applications requiring higher airflow | View Emflon* PFAW |
| Sterilising air and gas | Aerosol | 100°C (212°F) | High-temperature critical applications | View Emflon* HTPFRW |
Compressed Air and Gas Filter Housing Options
Pall offers a variety of housing options designed specifically for air and gas applications. Different housing configurations are available to support compressed air, gas and vent filtration requirements.
Which Filter Housing Is Right for Your Application?
Use the table to compare housing configurations for compressed air, gas and vent filtration applications.
| Configuration | Filter Cartridges | Compatable Cartridge Style | Application | Product |
|---|---|---|---|---|
t-style | Single round | AB05, AB1, AB2 and AB3 | Compressed air and gas filtration | View Advanta™ AGT Series |
In-line | Single round | AB05, AB1, AB2 and AB3 | Vent filtration | View VFK Series |
In-line | Single round | AB05, AB1, AB2 and AB3 | Vent filtration | View VFS Series |
t-style | Three cartridges | AB1, AB2 and AB3 | Compressed air and gas filtration | View Advanta™ AGT housings |
Need Help Selecting a Sterile Air Filter?
Whether you're designing a new process or optimizing an existing installation, Pall can help identify the appropriate sterile air and gas filtration solution for your application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is sterile air and gas filtration?
Sterile air and gas filtration removes microorganisms from air and other gases to protect contacted food and beverage products, ingredients, packaging and equipment surfaces from airborne microbial contamination.
What is the difference between membrane and depth filters?
PTFE membrane filters are typically preferred for critical sterile air filtration applications. Depth filters are commonly used in dry air filtration applications and generally provide higher airflow than membrane cartridge filters.
Where are Emflon* filters used?
Emflon* filters are used for compressed air filtration, gas filtration and tank vent filtration applications throughout the food and beverage industry.
*Emflon/Supor are trademarks of Cytiva.
Talk to a Sterile Air Filtration Expert