Background & Objective
A pharmaceutical manufacturer approached our technical team to improve the clarity of its liquid product. The original solution exhibited extremely high turbidity, exceeding the measurable range of standard instruments, which affected product quality and downstream processing stability. The goal of this study was to identify the most suitable filter sheets to achieve optimal clarification while maintaining efficient filtration performance.
Experimental Setup
Filtration trials were conducted using a vertical plate-and-frame filtration system with a filtration area of 0.0082 m². A series of filter sheets with different micron ratings (ranging from 6.0 μm down to 0.1 μm) were evaluated. Prior to testing, the system was thoroughly cleaned using acid and alkaline solutions, followed by rinsing with purified water to ensure neutral pH conditions.
Each filter sheet was pre-flushed with purified water to remove loose fibers and ensure stable filtration performance.
Procedure
- The pharmaceutical solution was homogenized before filtration.
- A fixed volume of 1000 mL sample was processed in each trial.
- Filtration pressure, flow rate, and turbidity before and after filtration were recorded.
- Post-filtration samples were also observed after 24 hours of static settling to evaluate long-term clarity and sediment formation.
Results
- Coarse filtration stages significantly improved flow rate but showed limited impact on turbidity reduction.
- Medium-grade filter sheets reduced turbidity substantially but still resulted in minor sediment after standing.
- Fine filtration combinations (multi-layer configurations) achieved a strong balance between clarity and efficiency.
- Fine and ultra-fine filter sheets (≤0.5 μm) delivered the best clarity results, with turbidity reduced to approximately 4–6 NTU and no visible sediment after 24 hours.
Conclusion
The study demonstrated that a staged filtration approach—combining pre-filtration with finer-grade filter sheets—provides optimal performance. This strategy effectively removes suspended particles while maintaining acceptable flow rates and ensuring long-term clarity stability.
Value to the Customer
- Significant improvement in product clarity
- Elimination of sediment formation during storage
- Optimized filtration efficiency and process reliability
- Clear guidance on filter sheet selection for scalable production
Post time: May-06-2026
