How to Use and Sterilize the MCE Membrane Filter?

The MCE membrane filter has a smooth surface, with a light and thin texture, high porosity, and uniform microporous structure, so it has the characteristics of a fast flow rate and is not easy to adsorb.

What are MCE filters used for? Membrane filters sterilization is used during injection by placing the membrane between the syringe and the needle. It has high porosity, with a faster flow rate, making it suitable for clarifying and disinfecting aqueous sample solutions, such as base water, as well as filtering out gas particles, bacteria, alcohol, and particulate matter. MCE membrane filter can be used in the pharmaceutical industry, biological products, mineral beverages, brewing, and other industrial water quality, medical oil, lubricating oil, fuel oil, scientific research laboratory, etc., to filter out bacteria and particles. Generally, particles above 0.65 microns can be removed, and bacteria below 0.45 microns can be filtered out.

How to use the MCE membrane filter?

1. Lay the filter membrane flat in a clean container, soak it in distilled water at about 70°C, so that it is completely wetted, for about 4 hours or more, and then rinse it with distilled water before use.
2. Put the cleaned filter membrane (wet) into the matched filter to prevent the surrounding liquid from leaking, put the filtrate into the liquid inlet, and discharge the air from the exhaust port to the filter. Because the pore size of the filter membrane is relatively small, the flow rate of normal pressure filtration is relatively slow. Generally, vacuum pump negative pressure suction filtration or air pump pressure filtration can be used.
3. In the actual use process, for operations that are not particularly demanding, you can directly filter without the above steps, but it will have a slight impact on the speed or flexibility. The flexibility of the filter membrane after immersion treatment will be better, less prone to breaking, and the flow rate will be faster.
4. This accuracy belongs to the range of fine filtration. Generally, it is not suitable for the filtration of liquids with a lot of impurities, nor is it suitable for liquids with high viscosity. For example, after a certain amount of filtration, the filtration pressure increases significantly (above 0.15MPa), and the flow rate decreases significantly. Or if there is no liquid, you need to replace the filter membrane. For the solution with more impurities, it can be pre-filtered with a larger precision filter membrane or other filter media.

How to sterilize membrane filters?

1. Membrane filter sterilization and steam sterilization for 30 minutes.
2. Autoclave sterilization (121℃, 30min). Soak the filter membrane in distilled water for over half an hour, and keep it moist during the sterilization process. Disinfect the filter membranes of all appliances if poor wetting affects the flow rate. Sterilization and filtration in a sterile room should be carried out in strict accordance with the membrane filter sterilization operating procedures, with a nominal pore size of 0.45 microns, 0.3 microns, and 0.2 microns.
3. Rinse in 75% ethanol solution for a short time. This method has a certain impact on the material of the filter membrane and is not commonly used.

The specifications of the mixed cellulose filter membrane are as follows:
Diaphragm (mm): 13; 25; 47; 90; 142; 293.
Pore size(μm): 0.1, 0.22, 0.45, 0.8, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0, 10.0.
Breadth (mm):254, 260, 270, 280, 310mm, and the inner core is 22mm.

Precautions of the MCE membrane filter

1. The above method is only suitable for the pre-filtration of liquid medicine or other water substances.
2. The microporous membrane can only be used in the final stage of filtration. The filtrate must be pre-filtered with sand sticks or other filter materials to avoid clogging the membrane.
3. The pressure resistance of the filter membrane is 0-3 kg (0-0.3MPa); the material is not resistant to strong acids and alkalis (suitable for PH3-9).
4. The membrane is resistant to high temperatures of 120 degrees, flammable, not resistant to acids and alkalis, and not resistant to solvents. We must understand whether the filter material affects the filter membrane before use.