The Differences Between Nylon Membrane Filters and MCE Membrane Filters

The differences between nylon membrane filters and MCE membrane filters.

Nylon membrane filters and MCE (mixed cellulose ester) membrane filters are two types of filters commonly used in various laboratory applications, including the filtration of biological samples, environmental samples, and particulate matter. Although both types of filters serve the same basic function of separating particulate matter from a liquid or gas stream, there are several differences between nylon membrane filters and MCE membrane filters:

1. Material composition: Nylon membrane filters are made from nylon polymers, while MCE membrane filters are made from a mixture of cellulose acetate and cellulose nitrate. The difference in material composition affects the chemical compatibility of the filters with different solvents and solutions.

First of all, nylon membrane filters are hydrophilic and are recommended for applications that require very low extractable content because they do not contain any wetting agents, detergents, or surfactants.

When referring to MCE membrane filters, are some kind of standard filters that are frequently used in laboratories and are made of mixed cellulose esters. On the whole, the MCE membrane filters have excellent pore-formed properties, good hydrophily, and low protein adsorption ability.

2. Pore size: Nylon membrane filters typically have smaller pore sizes than MCE membrane filters. Nylon filters are available in pore sizes ranging from 0.1 to 10 microns, while MCE filters are available in pore sizes ranging from 0.1 to 5 microns.

The principle of pore size selection is the same as the mixed fiber membrane, that is, the removal of particles using nominal pore size um, sterilization using nominal pore size 0.65 um, 0.45um, 0.3um, 0.22um, 0.1um, diameter:100 mm, 150mm, 200mm, 300mm, 400mm.

3. Chemical resistance: Nylon membrane filters have higher chemical resistance than MCE membrane filters. Nylon filters can withstand exposure to a wider range of solvents and solutions, including acids and bases, while MCE filters are more limited in their chemical compatibility.

The nylon membrane has strong chemical resistance and is suitable for filtering more corrosive solutions, such as alcohol and DMSO. Nylon membrane filters are alkali-resisting but not acid-resisting. Hawach nylon membrane filter is aliphatic nylon, which has good hydrophilicity and resistance to the appropriate concentration of acid and base. Also, the nylon membrane filters are difficult to corrode in the ketone, phenol, ether, and alcohol of high molecular weight.  The universal filter membrane has high mechanical strength, thermal endurance properties, and stable chemical properties. They have a strong adsorbed ability and can tolerate most organic solvents and alkaline solutions.

4. Protein binding: Nylon membrane filters have a higher tendency to bind proteins than MCE membrane filters. This can be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the application. In some cases, the protein binding property of nylon filters can improve the efficiency of certain assays or experiments.

5. Cost: MCE membrane filters are generally less expensive than nylon membrane filters, making them a more cost-effective option for some applications.

In addition, the raw materials are easy to get at low costs. In general, the filters are mostly applied in chemotaxis and cell retention as well as particulate collection. Also, they are used for the ultrafiltration of all kinds of solutions, measuring light scattering and sterilization of water solutions, buffer solutions, serum, and culture medium.

In summary, the choice between nylon membrane filters and MCE membrane filters depends on the specific requirements of the application. If chemical compatibility, protein binding, or smaller pore size is important, then nylon filters may be preferred. However, if cost is a primary consideration and chemical compatibility is less of an issue, then MCE filters may be a more suitable choice.

The membrane filter should be cleaned before use, soaked in distilled water after washing in the filter, and organic solvent filtration with ethanol to wash. For high-requirement applications, for example, chromatographic sample or reagent filtration, if the water system, distilled water after washing, then distilled water pre-filtration, if organic filtration, so that the product in pure toluene and more than 95% ethanol soaked overnight, then pure toluene and pure ethanol pre-filtration, thoroughly washed after the use of the membrane.

Generally, nylon membrane filters are especially suitable for the filtration of alkaline solutions. And, they can be sterilized normally at a temperature of 121℃ without breaking the integrity of the membrane. Nylon membrane filters are suitable not only for the aqueous solution containing acid and base but also for organic solvents, such as alcohols, hydrocarbons, ethers, esters, ketones, benzene, and benzene homologs, dimethyl sulfoxide, and so on.

Membrane filtration is a kind of physical method of separation through a very thin filter medium to separate molecules of various sizes and characteristics. Also called surface filtration, based on the membrane filtration principle, can separate the solid particles which are usually large compared to the pore size of the membrane. As the shapes of the pores on the surface are not regular, the rejection of particles is based on their physical size, charge, affinity, or combination of these properties.

Playing like a physical barrier, the membrane can separate the samples, and only certain selected components can pass through. At the same time, the membrane filter can reject the large particles which don’t have the chance to go into the interior of the filter.

The advantage of membrane filtration is well known for fewer processing steps and higher separating purity. Hawach has two types of filter membranes available for you: round disc membrane filters and roll-type membrane filters, for the filtration and sterilization of liquids, gas and etc. Do You Know How to Choose a Membrane Filter?

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