SPOTLIGHT
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Filters
A line of 50-mm filtration products is suitable for venting and liquid filtration applications. The filters are available in overmoulded and welded versions and come with a range of standard inlet-outlet connection options. The filters can be used for sterilizing gases and filtering protein solutions. The firm can produce custom connectors for the filters. Filtertek, Newcastle West, Ireland.
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Bubble-trap device
A newly redesigned bubble-trap device attaches to laboratory tubing to provide an effective and cost-efficient method for removing air bubbles. The mechanical device requires no physical interaction to operate, making it suitable for use in flow analysis systems, enzyme reactors, and flow-through biosensors. Measuring 30 ¥ 22 mm in height, the device consists of an inert PTFE membrane and PEEK housing. The unit can be installed using a 0.25-in. UNF female port. Bio-Chem Valve, Boonton, NJ, USA.
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Miniature sintered filters
A company designs and manufactures miniature sintered filters that are housed within external and internal threaded fittings. Suitable for keeping foreign materials out of a choke or fluid line where small orifices may be clogged by air-line contaminates, the compact filters are available in 5-, 20-, and 40-µm versions. Applications include medical equipment, instruments, and laboratory equipment. Beswick Engineering, Greenland, NH, USA.
Miniature in-line screens
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Fine stainless-steel wire screens are suitable for protecting small orifices and other critical components in gas- and liquid-flow systems. Capable of removing particles as small as 10 µm, the screen assemblies are offered in brass and stainless steel. Applications include protection of precision orifices, pneumatic transducers, gas- and liquid-flow instruments, and medical devices. The screens can be built into standard and custom orifice assembles. O’Keefe Controls, Monroe, CT, USA.
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In-line disposable filters
A line of rugged, disposable filters can remove bacterial pathogens. Offering 0.2-µm bacterial-retention-grade filtration, the in-line filters can be used for rinsing and processing medical equipment. The manufacturer offers a variety of inlet and outlet connectors to enable OEMs to customize the filters on a small-capsule platform. Providing high flow rates, the in-line capsule filters are produced in cleanroom conditions and are individually tested for integrity. They are suitable for 7 days of use before disposal. Whatman International, Maidstone, Kent, UK.
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Air and gas filters
A range of stainless-steel filters for compressed air and gas are designed to perform consistently in harsh environments. Balston SS Harsh-Environment Coalescing Filters are capable of removing 99.99% of particles 0.01 µm and larger from gases and air, purifying process streams for applications in which contamination could threaten process integrity or downstream equipment operating efficiency. The filters are supplied with autodrains and a high-efficiency cartridge preinstalled. Constructed from Type 304 stainless steel, they are available in line sizes ranging from 1¼4 to 1 in. with flow capacities exceeding 1100 m3/hr. Parker Hannifin Filtration Div. Europe, Maidstone, Kent, UK.
Porous polymers
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A company specializes in porous polymeric materials that are suited for use as a support for the sorbent bed in chromatography columns, both laboratory and process scale. The firm’s i-Vyon media can be made permanently hydrophilic or hydrophobic over a range of chemical and physical conditions. The i-Vyon porous polymeric materials are suited for applications involving fluid transfer, filtration, and chemical separation. Porvair Filtration Group, Fareham, Hants, UK.
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Venting media
A supplier of specialized venting and filtration media offers a 5-µm medical membrane suitable for use in devices that require liquid resistance and high airflow. To contain bulk liquids while allowing for the free exchange of airflow, the membrane uses a two-layer laminate. The laminate combines hydrophobic expanded PTFE with a nonwoven membrane support. The firm’s medical membranes are available in a variety of forms and are easily processed in automated manufacturing environments. The robust construction of the membranes provides protection for healthcare workers, patients, and equipment. Gore, Newark, DE, USA.
