Filtration Articles & Insights | PoreFiltration

Introduction to Depth Filter Sheets

Written by David Keay | Dec 5, 2024

We’re always looking for new products to meet the needs of our customers and we’re delighted to announce we now offer Hobra Depth filter sheets and lenticular cartridges as part of our extensive filter range. Let’s take a closer look at depth filter sheets.

Introduction to Depth Filter Sheets

Depth filter sheets are high-performance filtration tools designed for the efficient removal of particles, contaminants, and microorganisms from a wide range of liquids. Unlike surface filters that capture particles on the surface, depth filter sheets feature a porous, multi-layer structure that trap contaminants throughout the entire thickness of the filter medium. This design allows for high dirt-holding capacity, making depth filter sheets ideal for applications requiring the removal of fine particulates, colloids, and microorganisms, even at high flow rates. They can be offered as alternates for existing applications or combined with housings for new applications.

How Depth Filter Sheets Work

Depth filter sheets use a combination of mechanical entrapment and adsorption to retain contaminants. The multi-layered matrix is composed of fibres, diatomaceous earth, perlite, and cellulose, which create a tortuous path through which liquids pass. As the liquid flows through the depth of the filter, particles are captured in the various layers, ensuring effective filtration without rapid clogging.

Types of Depth Filter Sheets

  1. Coarse Filtration Sheets
    Designed for pre-filtration or the removal of larger particles, coarse filtration sheets offer low-pressure drops and high flow rates. These are ideal for applications where the primary goal is to remove visible particulates, such as in initial clarification stages in the food and beverage industries, particularly for products like wine, beer, and juices.
  2. Fine Filtration Sheets
    Fine depth filter sheets are designed to capture smaller particles and finer contaminants. They provide more efficient filtration than coarse sheets and are often used for polishing applications, where clarity and purity are critical. These sheets are commonly used in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries for the clarification of active ingredients, cell cultures, or proteins.
  3. Germ-Reducing and Sterile Filtration Sheets
    Germ-reducing and sterile-grade depth filter sheets offer high microbial retention for critical applications. These sheets are suitable for industries like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biotechnology where bacterial removal or sterile filtration is required. Made with high adsorption capacity for endotoxins, spores, and bacteria, sterile-grade depth filters ensure product safety and purity in applications such as fermentation or sterile bottling.
  4. Activated Carbon Filter Sheets
    For applications requiring the removal of colour, odour, or unwanted trace impurities, activated carbon filter sheets are highly effective. These sheets combine depth filtration with adsorption properties of activated carbon to eliminate organic compounds, residual chlorine, and other impurities. These are widely used in water treatment, air purification, and decolorization of food and beverage products.

  5. High-Density Filter Sheets
    High-density filter sheets provide superior mechanical strength and particle retention, ideal for applications dealing with viscous liquids or high particle loads. They are often used in processes like sugar refining, oil purification, and chemical processing, where high filtration performance and durability are required.

Applications of Depth Filter Sheets

Depth filter sheets are used across a wide range of industries:

  • Food & Beverage: Clarification of wine, beer, spirits, juices, and edible oils.
  • Healthcare & Biotechnology: Filtration of cell cultures, enzymes, proteins, and vaccines.
  • Chemicals & Solvents: Purification of acids, solvents, and high-viscosity fluids.
  • Cosmetic: Filtration of lotions, creams, and other cosmetic products to ensure purity.
  • Industrial: Filtration of lubricants, fuel, and hydraulic fluids.

Why Choose Depth Filter Sheets?

Depth filter sheets offer several technical advantages over other filtration technologies, including:

  • High Dirt-Holding Capacity: Depth filters can retain large amounts of contaminants without compromising flow rates.
  • Extended Service Life: With high particle load tolerance, depth filter sheets offer longer operational life compared to surface filters.
  • Versatile Filtration Options: Available in various grades, from coarse to sterile, allowing for flexible use across different filtration stages.
  • Consistent Quality: Engineered to provide reliable, repeatable filtration performance, ensuring product consistency and purity.

Whether you're dealing with complex liquids requiring polishing or more demanding applications like microbial reduction, depth filter sheets are a highly efficient and versatile solution for industrial and critical process filtration.

Here at Porefiltration, we live and breathe filters. So If you'd like a no-obligation quote, where we guarantee to save you to 15% off you current filtration spend, or you'd just like some advice on your filtration processes, then give us a call or send us an email and we'd be happy to help.

 

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