Prefilters & Bioburden Control
Prefilters are a cost-effective, proven technology used throughout bioprocessing to remove particulates, reduce bioburden and improve processing efficiency.
Our prefilter portfolio includes:
- Milligard® PES membrane prefilters: gamma-compatible, bioburden reduction filters supported by the Emprove® Program, and are the best choice for most pharma and biopharma applications.
- PolySep II ™ or Milligard® prefilters: autoclave compatible and may provide the performance you need for more challenging applications.
All prefilters are:
- Offered in multiple pore sizes for efficient filtration of different process streams
- Available in OptiScale® formats for efficient screening and scaling
- Available in capsule and cartridge formats with multiple connection options for reliable scaling from bench- to production-scale processing
For help determining the right filter for your process, read our product selection guide or contact us.
Section Overview
Milligard® PES Filters
Milligard® PES filters offer polyethersulfone (PES) membranes in three pore sizes. These prefilters increase the capacity of sterilizing filters or protect unit operations from particulate impurities. They can also be used as standalone bioburden reduction filters in processing steps that may not need a sterilizing filter.
Key Benefits
- Validated bioburden reduction claims (1.2/0.2 µm nominal, 1.2/0.45 µm only)
- Fast flow and high throughput
- Available in gamma-compatible formats, that can be integrated into Mobius® single-use assemblies
- Available in capsule and cartridge formats
- Supported by the Emprove® Program
For more detailed information on how Milligard® PES filters improve processing efficiency:
- Millipore Express® Sterilizing-Grade Membrane Filters Selection Guide
Discover various Millipore Express® sterilizing-grade membrane filters for liquid filtration in aseptic drug production.
- How Membrane Prefilters Enhance Bioprocessing Efficiency
Milligard® PES filters improve sterilizing-grade filter capacity and process economics
- Bioburden Reduction and Particulate Retention Using Milligard® PES Filters
Learn how Milligard® PES filters can be used as standalone filters in less critical process steps to remove particulates, reduce bioburden and provide high throughput.
- Processing mAb streams. How a bioburden reduction filter can improve process efficiency
For downstream processing steps that require bioburden control, rather than sterilizing-grade filtration, Milligard® PES filters are an attractive option.
- Membrane Prefilters Improve Sterilizing Filter Capacity and Process Economics in Bioprocessing
Prefilters can be used throughout bioprocessing to remove to remove particulates, improve quality and protect sterilizing filters and downstream unit operations.
- Membrane Prefilters Improve Sterilizing Filter Capacity and Process Economics in Bioprocessing
This technical article focuses on capacity performance improvements in sterilizing filters when Milligard® PES prefilters are upstream.
- Membrane Filtration: Efficient Particle Retention and Bioburden Reduction in Bioprocessing Fluid Streams
Some prefilters reduce bioburden and can be used as a cost-effective alternative to sterilizing filters for bioburden control in bioprocessing.
Products
Polysep™ II 1.0/0.2 µm nominal, Cartridge
pore size 1.0/0.2 μm, cartridge nominal length 4 in. (10 cm), Code M (2-118; O-rings)
Polysep™ II 1.0/0.2 µm nominal, Cartridge
pore size 1.0/0.2 μm, cartridge nominal length 10 in. (25 cm)
Polysep™ II 1.0/0.5 µm nominal, Cartridge
pore size 1.0/0.5 μm, cartridge nominal length 10 in. (25 cm)
Milligard® 0.5/0.2 µm nominal, Cartridge
pore size 0.5/0.2 μm, cartridge nominal length 10 in. (25 cm), Code 0 (2-222; O-rings)
Milligard® PES 1.2/0.45 μm, Opticap® Small Scale 300 Capsule
Fittings 9/16 in. Hose Barb Inlet and Outlet, Method Gamma-compatible or Autoclavable
Milligard® PES 1.2/0.45 μm, Opticap® Small Scale 300 Capsule
Fittings 3/4 in. Sanitary Flange Inlet and Outlet, Method Gamma-compatible or Autoclavable
Polysep™ II 1.0/0.5 µm nominal, Cartridge
pore size 1.0/0.5 μm, cartridge nominal length 30 in. (75 cm)
Milligard® 0.5/0.2 µm nominal, Opticap® XLT Capsule
inlet connection diam. 5/8 in., Opticap® XLT 10, pore size 0.5/0.2 μm, cartridge nominal length 10 in. (25 cm)
OptiScale® 25 Milligard® PES
filtration area 3.5 cm², pore size 1.2/0.45 μm
Milligard® PES 1.2/0.2 μm nominal, Opticap® Small Scale 300 Capsule
Fittings 3/4 in. Sanitary Flange Inlet and Outlet, Method Gamma-compatible or Autoclavable
Milligard® PES 1.2/0.2 µm nominal, OptiScale® Capsule
filtration area 3.5 cm², OptiScale® 25, pore size 1.2/0.2 μm
Polysep™ II 1.0/0.5 µm nominal, Opticap® XL Capsule
Opticap® XL 2, inlet connection diam. 3/4 in., pore size 1.0/0.5 μm, cartridge nominal length 2 in. (5 cm)
Polysep™ II 1.0/0.5 µm nominal, Opticap® XL Capsule
inlet connection diam. 9/16 in., Opticap® XL 5, pore size 1.0/0.5 μm, cartridge nominal length 5 in. (12.5 cm)
Milligard® PES 1.2/0.2 µm nominal, Cartridge
pore size 1.2/0.2 μm, cartridge nominal length 10 in. (25 cm)
Milligard® PES 1.2/0.8 µm, OptiScale® Capsule
OptiScale® 25, filtration area 3.5 cm², pore size 1.2/0.8 μm
Milligard® PES 1.2/0.2 µm nominal, Opticap® XL Capsule
Opticap® XL 10
Polysep™ II 1.0/0.2 µm nominal, Opticap® XLT Capsule
inlet connection diam. 1.5 in., Opticap® XLT 20, pore size 1.0/0.2 μm, cartridge nominal length 20 in. (50 cm)
Polysep™ II 1.0/0.5 µm nominal, Opticap® XL Capsule
Opticap® XL 2, inlet connection diam. 1-1/2 in., pore size 1.0/0.5 μm, cartridge nominal length 2 in. (5 cm)
Milligard® PES 1.2/0.45 µm, Cartridge
pore size 1.2/0.45 μm, cartridge nominal length 20 in. (50 cm)
Milligard® 1.2/0.5 µm nominal, Opticap® XL Capsule
inlet connection diam. 3/4 in., Opticap® XL 5, pore size 1.2/0.5 μm, cartridge nominal length 5 in. (12.5 cm)
PolySep™ II Filters
- Mixed media of borosilicate glass microfiber and mixed esters of cellulose.
- Pore sizes: 1.0/0.2/0.1 μm, 1.0/0.2 μm, 1.0/0.5 μm, 1.0/1.2 μm, 2.0/1.2 μm.
- High capacity prefilters for removing particles from plugging, viscous, and challenging streams.
- Available in both capsule and cartridge formats.
Milligard® Filters
- Mixed esters of cellulose on a polyester web.
- Pore sizes: 0.2 μm, 0.5 μm, 1.2 μm, 0.5/0.2 μm, 1.2/0.5 μm.
- High particle and retention capacity prefilters for use upstream of sterilizing filters.
- Available in both capsule and cartridge formats.
Our Tech Note shows comparative performance of Milligard® PES filters with Polysep™ II and Milligard® filters.
Formats From Bench to Production Scale
Optiscale® capsules are designed to quickly assess performance or estimate area requirements for larger-scale processes.
Approximate filtration areas of capsule and cartridge filters. Refer to product specifications for complete information. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Filtration area (m2) | Milligard® PES | Milligard® | Polysep™II | |
| OptiScale® capsules | 25 mm | 3.5 cm2 | ✓ | ||
| 47 mm | 17.7 cm2 | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Opticap® Small Scale capsules | Small Scale 300 | 0.03 m2 | ✓ | ||
| Opticap® capsules | XL2 | ~0.06 - 0.1 m2 | ✓ | ✓ | |
| XL4 | ~0.11 - 0.2 m2 | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| XL5 | 0.19-0.3 m2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| XL10 | ~0.46-0.8 m2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Opticap® XLT/T-line* capsules | 10 | ~0.46 – 0.8m2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 20 | ~0.9 -1.6 m2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 30 | ~1.4 – 2.5 m2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Per Cartridge | 4” | ~0.17 - 0.28 m2 | ✓ | ✓ | |
| 10” | ~0.42 - 0.7 m2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Compliance
Milligard® PES, Milligard® and Polysep™ II filters are designed, developed, and manufactured in accordance with a Quality Management System approved by an accredited registering body to an ISO 9001 Quality Systems Standard, and supported by a certificate of quality.
Each Opticap® XL, XLT, T-line, Small Scale 300 capsule and cartridge filter is supported by a validation document for compliance with regulatory requirements. For traceability and easy identification, each filter is marked with identifying characteristics.
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