0.03–0.1 µm PES filters
Very fine membrane configurations for applications requiring particularly small documented pore sizes and high particulate retention.
PES Membrane Capsule Filter – Hydrophilic Filtration from 0.03 to 5.0 µm
Filtra International supplies hydrophilic PES membrane capsule filters for precision filtration of aqueous liquids in laboratory, biotechnology, pharmaceutical process development and industrial applications. Available membrane ratings range from 0.03 to 5.0 µm, including the widely specified 0.2 µm PES capsule filter.
Polyethersulfone (PES) combines strong hydrophilicity with low protein adsorption, making it particularly useful for aqueous buffers, process solutions and applications where interaction between the membrane and valuable dissolved components should be minimised.
Membrane
Hydrophilic PES
Pore sizes
0.03–5.0 µm
Key characteristic
Low protein adsorption
Compact filter area
Approx. 300 cm²*
*Configuration note: approximately 300 cm² is documented for the compact PES capsule configuration. Filtra also offers larger capsule formats. Effective filtration area, flow capacity and operating limits therefore depend on the selected capsule size and configuration.
PES capsule filter technical overview
| Filter type | Disposable hydrophilic PES membrane capsule filter |
|---|---|
| Filter membrane | Polyethersulfone (PES) |
| Membrane behaviour | Strongly hydrophilic |
| Protein interaction | Low protein adsorption |
| Typical service | Aqueous solutions and compatible process liquids |
| Media support | Polypropylene |
| Capsule hardware / housing | Polypropylene |
| Optional filling bell | Polycarbonate, configuration-dependent |
| Available pore sizes | 0.03, 0.04, 0.1, 0.2, 0.45, 0.65, 0.8, 1.2, 3.0 and 5.0 µm |
| Filtra selectable capsule lengths | 1.5", 2.5", 5", 10" and 20" |
| Compact configuration filter area | Approx. 300 cm² |
| Compact configuration working pressure | Up to 5 bar at 20 °C |
| Documented maximum operating temperature | 80 °C |
| Integrity testing | 100% integrity tested for the documented compact capsule range |
| Biological safety | Documented components meet USP Class VI-121°C specifications for plastics |
| Hot-water sanitisation | 90 °C for 30 minutes, multiple cycles |
| Autoclaving | 121 °C for 30 minutes, multiple cycles for the documented compact configuration |
| Material compliance | Documented FDA 21 CFR and EU 10/2011 food-contact material compliance |
How does a PES membrane capsule filter work?
Process liquid enters through the selected inlet connection and passes through the hydrophilic PES membrane. The controlled membrane pore structure retains particulate, colloidal and other contamination according to the selected membrane rating, while filtered liquid exits through the outlet connection.
Because PES is hydrophilic, compatible aqueous liquids wet the membrane readily. This provides straightforward start-up for water-based process fluids without the pre-wetting typically required by hydrophobic membranes such as PTFE.
The membrane and housing form one enclosed disposable capsule assembly, eliminating the need for a separate cartridge-filter housing for the capsule itself.
Why choose a hydrophilic PES membrane?
PES is particularly suited to aqueous filtration because of its strong hydrophilicity. Another important characteristic is low protein adsorption, which can help reduce unwanted interaction between the membrane and proteins or other valuable dissolved components.
This makes PES an important membrane to evaluate for buffers, purified water, biotechnology process liquids, pharmaceutical process development and other compatible aqueous solutions.
For protein-containing or high-value biological products, actual product recovery should still be verified under representative process conditions.
0.2 micron PES capsule filter
The 0.2 µm PES capsule filter is one of the most relevant configurations for fine filtration of aqueous pharmaceutical, biotechnology and laboratory process fluids.
Its hydrophilic membrane is well suited to water-based solutions, buffers and other compatible liquids where a fine membrane pore size is required.
Sterile-filtration note: a nominal 0.2 µm pore size and manufacturing integrity test do not by themselves demonstrate that every PES capsule configuration is a validated sterilizing-grade filter. Where validated microbial retention is required, confirm the exact filter grade, integrity-test specification and supporting validation documentation.
PES capsule filters from 0.03 to 5.0 micron
The broad PES pore-size range allows the membrane platform to be used for different clarification, fine-filtration and process-development duties.
0.2–0.45 µm PES filters
Common fine-filtration ratings for aqueous process solutions, pharmaceutical development, biotechnology and laboratory filtration.
0.65–5.0 µm PES filters
Larger-pore configurations for clarification, particle reduction and upstream filtration where lower membrane resistance or greater solids tolerance is required.
Available ratings are 0.03, 0.04, 0.1, 0.2, 0.45, 0.65, 0.8, 1.2, 3.0 and 5.0 µm.
PES capsule filters for aqueous buffers and process solutions
PES is primarily suited to filtration of compatible aqueous liquids. Typical applications can include purified water, laboratory solutions, aqueous buffers, process intermediates and biotechnology or pharmaceutical process-development fluids.
Membrane selection should consider not only pore size, but also the complete fluid composition, pH, temperature, additives, solids loading and required downstream retention.
Low protein adsorption for biotech and pharmaceutical filtration
Low protein adsorption is one of the useful characteristics of PES membrane media. For protein-containing solutions, this can help reduce unnecessary adsorption onto the filtration membrane.
Applications involving valuable proteins, biological products or sensitive formulations should still be tested under representative conditions because actual adsorption and product recovery depend on the formulation as well as the membrane material.
PES capsule filter connection options
Filtra offers multiple connection configurations for integration into laboratory tubing, pilot systems and process installations.
| NPT connections | 1/4" NPT male, 3/8" NPT male, 1/2" NPT male and 3/8" NPT female options |
|---|---|
| Swagelok connections | 1/4", 5/16", 3/8" and 1/2" selectable configurations |
| CPC quick-connect | 1/4" CPC PLC male and female configurations |
| Hose barb | 3/8", 1/2" and 1/4"–3/8" stepped hose-barb options |
| Sanitary connection | 1" Tri-Clamp / Tri-Clover |
Exact connection availability can depend on capsule format and selected configuration. Confirm the required inlet and outlet arrangement when requesting a quotation.
PES capsule lengths from 1.5 to 20 inches
Filtra's selectable PES capsule configurations include 1.5", 2.5", 5", 10" and 20" formats.
Capsule size influences effective membrane area, flow capacity, pressure drop, dirt-holding capacity and total throughput. The documented 300 cm² filter area applies specifically to the compact capsule configuration and should not be extrapolated to larger formats.
Typical PES capsule filter applications
- Aqueous buffer filtration
- Purified-water filtration
- Laboratory sample preparation
- Biotechnology process development
- Pharmaceutical R&D and pilot filtration
- Compatible biological-solution filtration
- Fine particle and colloid reduction
- Small-batch process filtration
- Process-solution clarification
- Filtration before analytical or downstream process steps
PES vs PVDF and PTFE capsule filters
| PES | PVDF | PTFE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wettability | Hydrophilic | Hydrophilic | Hydrophobic |
| Key characteristic | Strong hydrophilicity and low protein adsorption | Low protein adsorption | Hydrophobicity and chemical resistance |
| Typical starting point | Aqueous buffers and process liquids | Protein-sensitive and compatible biological/process liquids | Gas, venting and compatible solvents |
| Final selection | Compare chemical compatibility, protein recovery, pore size, flow, operating conditions and required validation documentation. | ||
Integrity Testing, Biological Safety & Material Compliance
The documented compact PES capsule configuration includes several quality and material-safety characteristics relevant to laboratory, biotechnology and pharmaceutical process filtration.
100% integrity tested
The documented compact PES capsule range is individually integrity tested
during manufacturing.
USP Class VI
Documented components meet biological-safety specifications for
USP Class VI-121°C plastics.
Autoclave compatible
The documented compact configuration supports autoclaving at
121 °C for 30 minutes over multiple cycles.
Material compliance
Documented construction materials have FDA 21 CFR and EU 10/2011
food-contact material compliance.
The documented compact configuration also specifies hot-water sanitisation at 90 °C for 30 minutes, a maximum working pressure of 5 bar at 20 °C and a maximum operating temperature of 80 °C.
For regulated pharmaceutical applications, documentation should always be confirmed against the exact membrane grade, pore size, capsule format and selected configuration.
PES capsule filters for pharmaceutical and biotechnology applications
Hydrophilic PES is an important membrane option for pharmaceutical and biotechnology liquid filtration because it combines aqueous wettability with low protein adsorption.
Potential applications include buffers, process solutions, purified water, biological liquids, method development, pilot filtration and other compatible aqueous process streams.
For regulated or sterile manufacturing processes, the product specification should also consider microbial-retention validation, integrity-test limits, sterilisation method, material compliance, extractables requirements, traceability and any application-specific quality documentation.
How to select a PES capsule filter
Correct PES capsule selection should consider the complete filtration duty, not only the micron rating.
- Required pore size from 0.03 to 5.0 µm
- Process liquid and complete formulation
- Aqueous buffer or process-solution composition
- Protein or biological-product recovery requirements
- Required particulate or microbial retention
- Flow rate and total process volume
- Expected solids and colloidal loading
- 1.5", 2.5", 5", 10" or 20" capsule format
- NPT, Swagelok, CPC, hose-barb or Tri-Clamp connection
- Operating pressure and temperature
- Sanitisation or autoclaving requirements
- Integrity-testing and pharmaceutical validation requirements
Need help selecting a PES capsule filter?
Send us your liquid composition, required pore size, process volume, flow rate, connection type and documentation requirements. We can help determine the appropriate PES configuration or compare PES with PVDF, PTFE and polypropylene alternatives.
PES Membrane Capsule Filter FAQ
What is a PES membrane capsule filter?
A PES membrane capsule filter is a self-contained disposable filtration device containing a polyethersulfone membrane inside a polymer capsule. Hydrophilic PES is primarily used for fine filtration of compatible aqueous laboratory, biotechnology and process liquids.
Is PES hydrophilic?
Yes. PES membrane in this range is strongly hydrophilic, making it well suited to filtration of compatible aqueous liquids without the pre-wetting typically required by hydrophobic membranes.
Does PES have low protein adsorption?
Yes. Low protein adsorption is a documented characteristic of this PES membrane. This can be useful when filtering protein-containing or other valuable process solutions, although actual product recovery should be verified for the specific formulation.
Which PES capsule filter pore sizes are available?
Available pore sizes include 0.03, 0.04, 0.1, 0.2, 0.45, 0.65, 0.8, 1.2, 3.0 and 5.0 µm.
Is a 0.2 micron PES capsule filter available?
Yes. A 0.2 µm hydrophilic PES configuration is available and is relevant to fine filtration of aqueous pharmaceutical, biotechnology and laboratory process liquids.
Does 0.2 micron mean the PES filter is sterilizing grade?
No. A nominal 0.2 µm pore size alone does not prove validated sterilizing-grade performance. The exact membrane grade, microbial-retention validation, integrity-test specification and supporting documentation must meet the process requirement.
Which PES capsule lengths are available?
Filtra offers selectable 1.5-inch, 2.5-inch, 5-inch, 10-inch and 20-inch PES capsule configurations. Technical specifications such as effective filter area vary by capsule format.
Which connection types are available?
Filtra connection configurations include NPT, Swagelok, CPC quick-connect, hose-barb and 1-inch Tri-Clamp / Tri-Clover options.
What is the filtration area of a PES capsule filter?
The documented compact PES capsule configuration provides approximately 300 cm² of filtration area. Larger capsule formats can provide different effective filtration areas and should be specified separately.
Can PES capsule filters be autoclaved?
The documented compact PES capsule configuration supports autoclaving at 121 °C for 30 minutes over multiple cycles. Always confirm the applicable limit for the exact capsule configuration selected.
Are PES capsule filters integrity tested?
The documented compact PES capsule range is 100% integrity tested during manufacturing. For regulated filtration processes, confirm the applicable test method and acceptance specification for the exact selected grade.
What is the difference between PES and PTFE capsule filters?
PES is hydrophilic and is commonly selected for aqueous buffers and process liquids. PTFE is hydrophobic and is commonly selected for air, gas, venting and compatible solvent filtration.
What is the difference between PES and PVDF capsule filters?
Both are hydrophilic membrane options with low protein adsorption characteristics. PES is commonly selected for a broad range of aqueous buffers and process liquids, while PVDF can be evaluated for protein-sensitive and other compatible biological applications. Final selection should be based on the actual formulation and required filtration performance.