Membrane Filter and How it Works ?

The Syringe Filter protects columns by preventing the congestion of fine particles in it and form premature blockage for it. In a sterile syringe filter, there are three parameters to access the system and evaluate its overall performance in terms of throughput, bubble point, and flow rate. Throughput is used to measure the capacity the dirt particulates. It suggests the time taken by the solution in passing through the membrane.  It will take a longer time to complete the process if throughput is lower. The bubble point facilitates the testing of pore size and reliability of the filter. The flow rate refers to the volume of fluid or air passing through the filter. All these factors determine the performance of a syringe filter.

Membrane filters are famous for its uniform porosity especially for the 0.45 micron filter to trap the micro-organism.  With the help of the membrane filter technique, the sample is passed  through the membrane  with the help of filter funnels and vacuum systems Any organisms in the sample are concentrated on the surface of the membrane.

The Membrane Filter technique is effective and can be accepted with the help of the proven technique to test the fluid samples for various contamination. This method needs less preparation as compared to the traditional methods that will allow isolation of the materials. Membrane Filters are used extensively in the laboratory and in the industry to sterilize fluid materials.

 Step-by-Step Procedure

1.  Collect the required samples and make dilution.

2.  Choose a particular nutrient or the culture medium. Put it in the sterile Petri dish and saturate the absorbent pad.

3. Flame the forceps, and remove the membrane from the sterile package.

4.  Position  the membrane filter into the funnel association.

5. Flame the pouring lip of the sample container and pour the sample into the funnel.

6. Turn on the vacuum and allow the sample to draw completely through the filter.

7. Clean the funnel with sterile buffered water. Turn on the vacuum and allow the liquid to draw completely through the filter.

8. Heat the forceps and remove the membrane filter from the funnel.

9. Place the membrane filter into the prepared Petri dish.

10. Raise it at the proper temperature and for the appropriate time period.

11. Count and confirm the colonies and report the results.

Advantage of Membrane Filter Technique

MCE Membrane Filter has an integral ring to enhance housing strength to prevent bursting and breaking. Support low hold-up volume for the treatment of small sample volumes with less minimal loss. Its Borosilicate pre-filter glass to deliver more filtrate volumes.

This technique allows the testing of large volumes of samples.  Basically, any volume of the non-turbid water could be filtered.

The membrane can be shifted from one medium to another for purposes of selection or differentiation of organisms, thus allowing isolation and enumeration of discrete colonies of bacteria.

You can get the final results within 24 hours of the process.

Uses of Membrane Filters

1. Membrane Filters are used extensively in the laboratory and in the industry to sterilize heat-labile fluid materials.

2. The effective and acceptable technique to monitor drinking water.

3. It is also useful for bacterial monitoring in the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, electronics, and food and beverage industries.

4.  It also allows for the removal of bacteriostatic or other agents that would not remove in any plate, spread plate, or MPN techniques.