Product description
Porous metal spargers for high-efficiency gas/liquid contacting
Porous metal spargers are sintered metal diffusion devices engineered to introduce gases into liquids as extremely fine bubbles. By creating a high gas-to-liquid contact area, spargers improve mass transfer efficiency, reduce gas consumption, and enhance process performance in bioreactors and industrial systems.
Porous metal technology provides thousands of flow paths through a rigid, all-metal porous structure, enabling consistent bubble formation and reliable performance across demanding operating conditions. In many applications, fine-bubble sparging can significantly improve gas absorption compared with conventional drilled pipe spargers. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
Product configurations
This product page covers a configurable sparger range that can be supplied as:
In-tank spargers – installed in vessels for batch or continuous processes
In-line spargers – installed in the process flow path (intrusive or non-intrusive designs)
Micro bioreactor spargers – sparger tips for laboratory and pilot-scale bioreactors
Quick-change spargers for bioreactors – assemblies with replaceable sparger tips to minimize turnaround time
Sparger assemblies for large tanks – manifolded systems (e.g., grid or octagonal layouts) for uniform distribution
Operating principle
Sparging is the controlled introduction of gas into a liquid. Gas is forced through micron-scale pores in the porous metal element, producing many small, slow-rising bubbles. This increases surface area and improves dissolution and reaction efficiency.
Typical benefits include:
fine bubble propagation for fast mass transfer
improved gas absorption efficiency (reported up to ~300% improvement versus traditional sparging in certain applications)
reduced gas usage and faster throughput
simple, robust, all-metal construction with no moving parts
In-line designs can be installed directly in-line or intrusively into piping, while in-tank systems can be arranged as single elements or manifolded patterns for larger vessels. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Media grades and micron options
Porous metal spargers are supplied in defined media grades to match bubble size and mass transfer needs. Typical guidance:
2 µm – recommended for most gas sparging applications
10 µm – commonly recommended for steam sparging applications
40 µm – often used for agitation/mixing applications
Bioreactor micro sparger tips are commonly available in 2 µm, 5 µm, 10 µm and 15 µm media grades depending on design. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Material options
Porous metal spargers can be supplied in corrosion-resistant and high-performance alloys to suit process chemistry, temperature and cleaning regimes. Common alloy options include:
316L
904L
Nickel 200
Monel 400
Inconel 600
Hastelloy C-276
Hastelloy C-22
Hastelloy X
Alloy selection depends on corrosion risk, operating temperature, and the gas/liquid system requirements. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Typical applications
bioreactors and fermentation (oxygen transfer, aeration)
chemical processing (gas/liquid reactions, stripping, oxidation)
water and wastewater treatment (aeration, pH control)
food and beverage (carbonation, oxygen stripping)
large tank gas distribution using manifolded sparging assemblies
Installation and operating notes
To maintain performance, avoid mechanical abrasion of the porous surface, keep hands and tools clean, and ensure gas is filtered appropriately to protect the porous media. Maintain gas flow when liquid is present to reduce backflow and fouling risk. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Configuration and quotation
Porous metal spargers are supplied according to application requirements. To specify a sparger, provide:
sparger type (in-tank, in-line, micro bioreactor, quick-change, large tank assembly)
gas type and gas flow rate
liquid type, temperature and viscosity
media grade / micron rating
material selection
dimensions and connection requirements
Technical support is available to confirm sizing, layout (for large tanks), and optimal media grade selection. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}