LifeASSURE™ PLA Series Prefilters Used Upstream Of LifeASSURE™ PSA Series Final Filters

Nylon membrane sterilizing grade filters have been used for many years by the pharmaceutical industry with excellent results. These filtration systems often use prefilters constructed from a different material, typically cellulose ester or polypropylene, than the final nylon membrane filter. This has been due primarily to the fact that prefilter and final filters were generally developed independently of one another. Recently, concern with extractables in filter systems has become a significant issue. One way to minimize concerns about extractables is to use as few materials of construction as possible in filter systems. An additional concern that is often expressed regarding minimization of filter assemblies is that it is generally preferable to use fewer filters in an operation to minimize cost as well as exposure to filter materials.

This Application Brief presents the advantages of using 3M Purification LifeASSURE multi-zone nylon prefilters upstream of LifeASSURE™ PSA Series Final Filters.