Reliable Results & Proven Performance

Quality Control Laboratories play a crucial role in identifying contamination and product issues before final release.  The data generated by these QC labs helps guide critical decisions.  The reliability of these results are demonstrated by Pall’s proven performance analysing samples from 150mL to less than 25µL. 

Protect What Really Matters with Pall Laboratory Syringe Filter Technology 

Syringe filters perform sample clean-up and preparation, ensuring the purest samples are analysed in liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry and ion chromatography applications. Reliable results depend upon accurate data, achieved by the low extractables and high particulate retention of our syringe filters. 

Our High-Quality Laboratory Filters Meet the Unique Requirements of Every Lab We Serve

We continue to revolutionise the industry with new products and solutions to meet your laboratory’s ever-changing needs. We have a wide variety of analytical QC membranes including our new water-wettable polytetrafluoroethylene (the next generation in universal membrane filtration - see below), along with our nylon, PVDF, hydrophobic PTFE membranes and more.  

• HPLC & UHPLC sample preparation
• LCMS sample preparation
• IC sample preparation
• High throughput sample preparation
• Mobile phase filtration

Featured New Products

The Pall Laboratory wwPTFE Membrane:

Our newest wwPTFE membrane comes in a variety of sizes to accommodate sample volumes from 25µL up to 150mL.  Providing your laboratory with the ability to process single samples with the new Pall Laboratory Acrodisc One™ syringe filter, small volumes with the Nanosep™ spin device or up to ninety-six samples with the Acroprep™ Advance filter plate. 

• Extend column life up to 52 times
• Reduce contamination with up to 24% less filter extractables than the competition
• Process single samples or up to ninety-six samples at once
• Simplify your sample preparation, saving time and money

Effects of filters on HPLC column life following injections of unfiltered and filtered 0.05% latex sphere suspensions. With unfiltered samples, the column failed due to plugging after 19 injections. Samples passed through competitor filters plugged the columns after 500 injections. No increase in backpressure was observed after 1000 injections of samples filtered with Pall Acrodisc One syringe filters.

The accurate, reliable detection and identification of microorganisms is critical to public safety and industrial economics. As we become more aware of the presence and variety of the organisms that share the world we live in, we realise the importance of knowing how to detect and control them.

We excel as a leader in the development and manufacture of products to detect and control these microorganisms. Our products comply with international testing methods, are supported by technical literature and carry certifications of quality. You can be confident that our affordable, easy-to-use products will meet the high quality standards you require.

Culturing sensitive organisms can be difficult and identification is critical for process control and public safety. Analysis membranes must be manufactured to the highest standards for accurate microbial growth and recovery. Our mixed cellulose ester GN Metricel™ membrane has set the standard worldwide for meeting stringent microbial regulations. Supor™ and Metricel Black membranes provide additional benefits that range from low drug and protein binding characteristics to background contrast for ease in counting colonies. These membranes provide uniform and consistent growth of organisms.

We also offer the widest selection of disposable filter funnels for microbiological analysis, offering unique design features that give these products a reputation for quality and ease of use.

MicroFunnel™  filter funnels make analysis easy. Design permits a simple squeeze separation of funnel from the base to access the membrane. Funnels attach directly to standard  laboratory manifolds and volume graduations are clearly marked to make it easy to measure your sample volume. Each unit is individually bagged, gamma-irradiated and labelled for added assurance of lot traceability.

Finally, we offer a full line of microbiological ampoule media, unique membrane dispensers, pumps and accessories such as petri dishes and stainless steel forceps to simplify your microbial analysis procedures.

Cannabis: R&D to Final Product in Three Steps

1) Research and Product Development

To develop a safe product for customers, the researcher must fully characterise the cannabis plant and all materials used in the development process including plant strains, terpenes and potency.

2)  Incoming Materials and Process Monitoring

Incoming raw materials must be tested for pesticide residue, metals, bacterial, yeast and mould contamination. Testing is conducted during the manufacturing process to ensure safety and consistent yield. 

3) Final Product Release Testing

Final products must be safe for human consumption and accurately reflect labelling claims. Final products must be tested for a range of contaminants including pesticides, metals, potency and microbial contamination.

Pall Corporation does not support, encourage or promote the use of its products or services in connection with any illegal use, cultivation or trade of cannabis or cannabis products. Pall products are intended to be used for cannabis-related purposes only in compliance with all applicable laws in a manner that promotes public safety and/or in connection with any lawful and approved scientific or research activities.

Our laboratory products are helping in the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) by assisting researchers around the globe in COVID-19 related workflows, from enabling detection of the virus to development of a vaccine.  Our filtration products ensure reliable and consistent results for workflows such as:

• Sterile filtration of media, kits and reagents
• Viral protein concentration
• QC testing of drug candidates
• RNA extraction
• N95 performance testing
• Wastewater surveillance 
• Conjugate viral proteins
• Viral collection of COVID-19 in air

We have a complete range of filtration products for all size requirements such as syringe filters, centrifugal devices, filter microplates, capsules, air/gas filters, vacuum devices, membrane discs, filter holders and more. We also have a team that can offer expert guidance based on individual application needs to match the best filtrations products for each application. Please inquire about how we can help you with your filtration, separation, and sample preparation needs.

The advent of next-generation sequencing techniques has enabled collection of unprecedented amounts of sequencing data in short spans of time. This has greatly contributed to our understanding of genomic and gene structure across many species and has also allowed us to gain much information about candidate genes for genetic disorders, cancer causing somatic mutations and misexpression due to epigenetic changes. Validation of candidate genes can take place by genetically engineered disease models created in mammalian cell culture or whole animal models. Many of the workflows involved in these studies are now carried out using high-throughput routines facilitated by multiwell DNA binding filter plates that allow larger numbers of genomic DNA samples to be obtained in parallel. 

Laboratory sterile filtration and clarification techniques are critical in reducing potential contamination. We provide effective filtration sterilisation and clarification solutions for global laboratory industries.

Pall Laboratory filters reduce filtration time, increase throughput, reduce the need for multiple filter changes and save in overall filtration costs. We manufacture membranes that are used to sterilise liquid reagents, remove particulate contamination and clarify solutions prior to further processing. These products are optimised for biological, pharmaceutical and sterilising filtration requirements and exhibit superior performance compared to competitive filter devices. Many of these products are scalable and feature identical membranes used in GMP scale manufacturing filters offered by Pall Biotech. 

All too frequently, days, weeks or, in the worst case, even months of cell culture work can be lost when bacterial, fungal or yeast contaminants are unknowingly introduced. Unfortunately, the same nutrient media that is used to grow cell cultures is often ideal for promoting the growth of these contaminants, which can quickly ruin your cultures. While there is no substitute for aseptic technique, sterilisation of liquids used during cell culture assures you that media and reagents are not a source of contamination. Heat sterilisation (autoclaving) is not an option for many liquids as autoclaving may destroy critical cell culture media components and biomolecules needed for normal cell growth. Sterile filtration, therefore, is the method of choice for sterilising cell culture media and additives. Filters capable of ambient sterilisation are also useful for the general clarification and purification of cellular broths and lysates as a means to enhance the recovery of target biomolecules. 

We manufacture membranes that are used to sterilise liquid reagents, remove particulate contamination and clarify solutions prior to further processing. These products are optimised for biological, pharmaceutical and sterilising filtration requirements. 

Whether you are preparing small volumes of reagents, individual bottles of buffers or media, or developing pharmaceutical processes, we have the products to optimise your sterile filtration applications. We can help you:

• Maximise product recovery
• Reduce filtration time
• Increase throughput
• Reduce the need for multiple filter changes
• Save in overall filtration costs

At Pall, quality and ease of use are engineered into every device. We manufacture our own membranes to ensure consistent performance from lot-to-lot. Examples of our stringent quality specifications include:

• Sterilisation by gamma irradiation – Products with Supor™ (PES), Fluorodyne™ II (PVDF) and Versapor™ (acrylic copolymer) membranes are pre-sterilised by gamma irradiation to eliminate potential cytotoxic residuals associated with EtO sterilisation. These pre-sterilised devices are individually packaged for convenience
• Biological safety – Passes United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Biological Reactivity Test, In Vivo <88>
• Non-pyrogenic – Products are tested for bacterial endotoxin using the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) test to ensure safety
• Low extractables – Products are optimised to reduce extractables, ensuring that unwanted materials are not introduced into filtered liquids

We offer a range of different devices to match your filtration requirements, throughput and volumes:

Sterile Syringe Filters

Acrodisc™ sterile syringe filters rapidly filter small volume samples and are available with diameters of 13, 25, 32, or 37mm. The Acrodisc sterile syringe filters are available with Supor (PES sterile filter) membranes featuring both a large EFA and PF (preflter) to maximise throughput and flow rate for sterile filtration and clarification requirements. 

Bottle-Top Vacuum Filters

The sterile VacuCap™ and VacuCap PF (preflter) bottle-top filter was engineered for media preparation for cell culture applications. VacuCap PF devices, designed with a built-in prefilter, increase throughput performance with serum-containing media or other viscous solutions.

Capsules

AcroPak™ filter capsules are suited for sterile capsule filtration and prefiltration applications. Capsules are available with a variety of membranes to sterilise liquid reagents, remove particulate contamination and clarify solutions prior to further processing. AcroPak capsule filters are available with a Supor (PES) membrane featuring both a large EFA and PF (prefilter) to maximise throughput and flow rate.

Membranes

Membranes are used to sterilise liquid reagents, remove particulate contamination, and clarify solutions prior to further processing. These products are optimised for biological, pharmaceutical and sterilising filtration requirements.

Ultrafiltration preserves biological activity and saves time: protein purification technology has progressed from methods as diverse as chemical precipitation for sample concentration or dialysis for buffer exchange, towards pressure-driven purification cross-flow systems utilising ultrafiltration membranes. Ultrafiltration (UF) techniques rely on the use of polymeric membranes with highly defined pore sizes to separate molecules according to size. Simply put, UF procedures rely on the use of fluid pressure to drive the migration of the smaller molecules through a UF membrane with the simultaneous retention of larger molecules.

While chemical precipitation can be used to concentrate a protein sample, separation with ultrafiltration is based on mechanical rather than chemical interactions, allowing a researcher to perform sample concentration without the addition of denaturing solvents or salts. Buffer exchange using dialysis technologies uses large volumes of buffer and since the only force acting upon the solution is diffusion, the process can take several days. Pre-assembled and simple-to-use ultrafiltration devices can rapidly perform either concentration or buffer exchange procedures without the extensive handling required for many other techniques.

Ultrafiltration can be performed in one of two operational modes: Direct Flow Filtration (DFF) or Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF). DFF works well for small volumes (up to 30mL) using centrifugal devices; however, DFF technologies can fall prey to problems with membrane fouling. To reduce the formation of a gel layer, cross-flow can be generated on the upstream side of the membrane using a floating stir bar configuration (stirred cell) or by creating a controlled laminar flow. While stirred cell operations tend to improve UF performance, they are still limited in achieving their optimal performance since the velocity and subsequent level of agitation is dependent on the sweep of the bar that varies along the radius of the sweep. 

What is Tangential Flow Filtration? (TFF)

Tangential Flow Filtration (TFF) is a rapid and efficient method for separation and purification of biomolecules. It can be applied to a wide range of biological applications such as immunology, protein chemistry, molecular biology, biochemistry, and microbiology. TFF can be used to concentrate and desalt sample solutions ranging in volume from 10mL to thousands of litres. It can be used to fractionate large from small biomolecules, harvest cell suspensions, and clarify fermentation broths and cell lysates.

Why Use Tangential Flow Filtration?

1. Easy to set up and use – Simply connect the TFF device to a pump and pressure gauge(s) with tubing and a few fittings, add your sample to the reservoir, and begin filtration.
2. Fast and efficient – It is easier to set up and much faster than dialysis. Higher concentrations can be achieved in less time than when using centrifugal devices or stirred cells.
3. Perform two steps with one system – Concentrate and diafilter a sample on the same system, saving time and avoiding product loss.
4. Can be scaled up or scaled down – Materials of construction and cassette pathlength allow conditions established during pilot-scale trials to be applied to process scale applications. TFF devices that can process sample volumes as small as 10mL or as large as thousands of litres are available.
5. Economical – TFF devices and cassettes can be cleaned and reused, or disposed of after single use. A simple integrity test can be performed to confirm that membrane and seals are intact.

Consider the Biomolecule of Interest

Your biomolecule of interest, or product, can be retained and separated from the low molecular weight contaminants, or it can be passed and purified from higher molecular weight contaminants and particles. 

In general, a membrane with a molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) should be selected that is three to six times smaller than the molecular weight of the protein to be retained. Other factors can also impact the selection of the appropriate MWCO. For example, if flow rate (or processing time) is a major consideration, selection of a membrane with an MWCO toward the lower end of this range (3x) will yield higher flow rates. If recovery is the primary concern, selection of a tighter membrane (6x) will yield maximum recovery (with a slower flow rate). These values should be used as a general guide, as solute retention and selectivity can vary depending on many factors, such as transmembrane pressure, molecular shape or structure, solute concentration, presence of other solutes, and ionic conditions. 

Our membranes are highly selective and typically achieve recoveries in the range of 95 to 99%. The narrow pore size distribution of these membranes results in minimal molecule retention of molecular weights below the MWCO of the membrane.

Consider Fluid Characteristics

Sample concentration and viscosity determine the type of channel that is required for the process run. Our lab scale TFF devices are available in screen or suspended screen configurations. Typically, screen channel configurations are used for clarified, dilute solutions free of particulate or aggregates. Suspended screen channel TFF cassettes provide better performance with highly viscous or particulate-laden solutions.

Consider the Sample Volume and Processing Time

Choosing the appropriate cassette or device size depends on the total sample volume, the required process time, and the desired final sample volume.

Our Minimate™ system works with Minimate capsules to easily process sample volumes up to 1000mL. For process development and scale-up applications, Pall Life Sciences offers an extensive line of TFF holders and cassettes. With these products, a complete TFF system for full production can be optimised using the volumes typically generated in the development or discovery lab. 

Key Applications of TFF

The primary applications of TFF are concentration, diafiltration (desalting and buffer exchange), and fractionation of large from small biomolecules. In addition, it can be used for clarification and removal of cells, as well as cellular debris from fermentation or cell culture broths.

Concentration

Concentration is a simple process that involves removing fluid from a solution while retaining the solute molecules. The concentration of the solute increases in direct proportion to the decrease in solution volume (i.e., halving the volume effectively doubles the concentration). To concentrate a sample, choose an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane with an MWCO that is substantially lower than the molecular weight of the molecules to be retained. This is important in order to assure complete retention and high recovery of the target molecule.

Diafiltration

Diafiltration is the fractionation process that washes smaller molecules through a membrane and leaves larger molecules in the retentate without ultimately changing concentration. It can also be used to remove salts or exchange buffers. It can remove ethanol or other small solvents or additives. 

There are several ways to perform diafiltration. In continuous diafiltration, the diafiltration solution (water or buffer) is added to the sample feed reservoir at the same rate as filtrate is generated. In this way, the volume in the sample reservoir remains constant, but the small molecules (e.g., salts) that can freely permeate through the membrane are washed away. Using salt removal as an example, each additional diafiltration volume (DV) reduces the salt concentration further. (Adding a volume of water or buffer to the feed reservoir equal to the volume of product in the system, then concentrating back to the starting volume constitutes one diafiltration volume. For example, if you have a 500mL sample to start, 1 DV = 500mL.) Using 5 DV will reduce the ionic strength by ~99% with continuous diafiltration.

In discontinuous diafiltration, the solution is first diluted and then concentrated back to the starting volume. This process is then repeated until the required concentration of small molecules (e.g., salts) remaining in the reservoir is reached. Each additional DV reduces the salt concentration further. Using 5 DV will reduce the ionic strength by ~96% with discontinuous diafiltration. Continuous diafiltration requires less filtrate volume to achieve the same degree of salt reduction as discontinuous diafiltration, as illustrated in the table below. By first concentrating a sample, the amount of diafiltration solution required to achieve a specified ionic strength can be substantially reduced. To reduce the ionic strength of a 1 litre sample by 96% using discontinuous diafiltration requires 5 DV or, in this case, 5 litres. If the sample is first concentrated tenfold to 100mL, then 5 DV is now only 500mL. This represents a substantial saving in buffer and time.

Venting and gas filtration is an essential part of laboratory operation. Venting may be as simple as a passive equilibration of gasses from a culture flask, to active filtration of a gas into a bioreactor. Vent filters, whether disposable filter units or hardware with disc filters, can be useful for: 

• Equilibration of gasses generated during normal cellular growth and metabolism
• Protecting aspirators, vacuum pumps and house vacuum lines from aerosols or liquid intrusion
• Filtering air/gas into equipment
• Filtering air/gas of unwanted microbes and particulates to maintain the proper environmental growth conditions in a bioreactor
• Protecting sensitive electronics from aerosol or fluid damage
• Protecting the laboratory work environment from unwanted aerosol contamination    
  

The industry’s broadest portfolio of vent filters makes it easy to match filter performance to application requirements. These self-contained, compact filter devices provide high efficiency removal of airborne bacteria and particulates under dry or moist conditions. Rugged polypropylene housings have broad chemical compatibility.

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