Prefiltration and clarification cartridges

PreFiber cartridges combine a depth medium and a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane as the final filter in a single filter element. They are installed upstream of final membrane filter cartridges to reduce the contaminant load reaching them and extend their service life.

All four models share the 2.75″ diameter, lengths from 10″ to 40″, and the same configurations (double 222 or 226 O-ring with fin or flat end, or double open end). They are steam sterilized at 121 °C and sanitized with water at 80 °C and with chemicals. They are manufactured in an ISO 7 cleanroom, with materials compliant with FDA 21 CFR 177 for food contact.

They differ in the depth medium. The PreFiber PP + PES and PreFiber A PP + PES use pleated polypropylene: the PreFiber PP + PES with nominal pore sizes from 0.1 to 0.65 µm and the PreFiber A PP + PES with absolute ratings from 0.1 to 1.2 µm. The PreFiber GF + PES and PreFiber Max GF + PES use glass microfiber with an asymmetric PES membrane: the high-capacity PreFiber GF + PES with 6,700 cm² per 10″; the high-density PreFiber Max GF + PES for heavy particle and colloid loads. If the membrane is not needed in the same cartridge, the MicroFiber line offers glass-microfiber-only prefilters.

MicroFiber cartridges are glass microfiber prefilters: they retain particles and colloids throughout the depth of the medium, upstream of final membrane filters, to extend their service life.

All three models share the same construction: a glass microfiber medium with polypropylene supports, core, cage, and end caps, 100 % thermally welded and adhesive-free. They have a 2.7″ (68 mm) outside diameter, lengths from 10″ to 40″, and a maximum operating temperature of 80 °C; they withstand steam sterilization at 121 °C and sanitization with water at 80 °C or with chemicals. They are manufactured in a cleanroom environment, with materials that comply with FDA 21 CFR for food and beverage contact.

The MicroFiber Plus has a single graded-density layer, the largest area (0.8 m² per 10″), and the widest range, from 0.45 to 40 µm. The MicroFiber Protec adds two glass layers in series, one open and one fine, for fluids with a high colloidal load, from 0.45 to 20 µm. The MicroFiber Max has a high-density glass prefilter for critical clarification, from 0.45 to 1.2 µm. None of them includes a membrane: they are installed ahead of it. For a prefilter and a final membrane in the same cartridge, there is the PreFiber line.

ProFlow is Exova's line of pleated polypropylene filter cartridges. All three models use progressive-porosity polypropylene microfibers and a 100 % polypropylene construction, joined by heat sealing and free of additives and surfactants: broad chemical compatibility and low extractables levels. They share the format—2.75″ (70 mm) diameter, lengths from 10 to 40″, and double 222 or 226 O-ring or double open end—as well as the operating conditions and steam sterilization at 121 °C in SOE cartridges with internal reinforcement.

They differ in the medium. The ProFlow Plus has the largest area in the line, 8,000 cm² per 10″, for a low pressure drop and high flow rates, with an absolute rating from 0.5 to 20 µm within a 0.2 to 40 µm range. The ProFlow and ProFlow Protec are dual-layer—prefilter and final layer—with 6,000 cm² per 10″: they start with a higher clean pressure drop but take more time and more processed volume to reach the change-out pressure. The ProFlow Protec is absolute from 0.2 to 10 µm; the ProFlow is offered in 0.45, 0.65, 1.2, and 3 µm.

All three have materials compliant with FDA 21 CFR 177 for food contact and are used in water and reverse osmosis pretreatment, prefiltration ahead of final filters, carbonated beverages, beer, wine, syrups, chemicals, solvents, and cosmetics.

MicroMesh is Exova's line of filter cartridges with a pleated 304 stainless steel mesh medium made of fine steel fibers. It currently comprises one model, the MicroMesh, in six pore sizes from 12 to 500 µm, for prefiltration and clarification of fluids in industrial processes.

The mesh is thermally welded to polypropylene supports, cage, core, and adapters, without glues or adhesives, which makes the cartridge suitable for contact with food, beverages, and pharmaceutical and biological solutions. It is resistant to corrosion and pressure, withstands repeated cleaning and high reverse flows, and has a low pressure drop. It uses the 2.75″ format—lengths from 10 to 40″, double 222 or 226 O-ring, or double open end—and is steam sterilized at 121 °C in SOE cartridges with internal reinforcement.