Prefiltration and Bioburden Reduction
Efficient Particle Removal and Protection: Prefilters for Optimized Filtration Processes
In biopharmaceutical manufacturing, prefiltration and bioburden reduction are critical for ensuring product quality and process reliability. Intensified processes and highly concentrated feedstreams require efficient prefiltration to increase overall throughput and minimize contamination risks during filtration.
Sartorius offers a comprehensive portfolio of prefilters designed to remove particles and reduce microbial load, protecting downstream filters and improving efficiency. Tailored for a wide range of applications, our solutions deliver clarity, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
Prefiltration & Bioburden Reduction Solutions
Sartoguard, Sartoclean® & Sartopure®
In the pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical industries, achieving product purity and safety is paramount. Efficient prefiltration solutions are essential for enhancing sterilizing-grade filter performance by minimizing particle burden and microbial contamination. Sartorius offers solutions with high dirt-holding capacity, scalability, and flexibility—including a range of filtration media (such as membrane filters and fleece-based filters)—optimized for complex bioprocess fluids and supporting diverse applications and process volumes.
Particle reduction filters serve as the first line of defense, removing coarse particles and protecting downstream equipment. These filters are ideal for early-stage clarification of complex or viscous feedstreams in biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical processes
| Feature | Sartopure® PP3 | Sartopure® GF Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Filter Media | Polypropylene fleece | Highly charged glass fiber fleece |
| Retention Range | 0.45-0.5 µm | 0.65-1.2 µm |
| Key Applications | Prefiltration and clarification of:
Protection of downstream equipment | Prefiltration and clarification of:
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Bioburden reduction filters are used downstream as prefilters to reduce microbial load and protect sterile filtration. These filters help ensure microbial purity in media, buffers, and final formulations.
| Feature | Sartoguard GF | Sartoguard PES | Sartoclean® GF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filter Media | Glass fiber prefilter and PES membrane | Dual-layer PES membranes | Glass fiber prefilter and cellulose acetate membrane |
| Retention Range | 0.2 µm | 0.1-0.2 µm | 3.0 μm and 0.8 μm, 0.8 μm and 0.65 μm |
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Related Assets
Unmatched Filtration Expertise: Sartorius Prefiltration Solutions
At Sartorius, we engineer high-performance prefilters designed to protect your downstream systems and ensure microbial integrity. Whether for buffer clarification, cell harvests, or sterile drug manufacturing, our solutions—featuring advanced fleece and membrane technologies—deliver consistent performance. Sartopure® PP3, Sartopure® GF Plus, Sartoguard®, and Sartoclean® filters offer trusted protection across a wide range of bioprocess applications, minimizing filter fouling and extending final filter life. Designed for scalability, reproducibility, and compliance, our prefiltration portfolio supports particle reduction, harvest clarification, and robust bioburden control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Prefiltration removes large particles before final filtration, reducing filter fouling and increasing the lifespan of sterilizing-grade membranes. This step improves overall efficiency, reduces costs, and ensures consistent process performance.
Bioburden reduction lowers microbial levels in fluids before sterilizing filtration. It is essential in biopharmaceutical manufacturing to prevent microbial contamination, ensure product safety, and meet regulatory requirements for sterility.
Fleece filters capture particles within the depth of their layered structure, while membrane filters act as surface barriers. Fleece filters are ideal for coarse and colloidal particles; membranes are suited for final or sterile filtration requiring absolute retention.
Sartorius offers Sartopure® PP3, Sartopure® GF Plus, Sartoclean® GF, and Sartoguard PES. These prefilters support efficient particle removal and bioburden reduction across various applications, ensuring reliable and scalable performance.
Selection depends on fluid type, particle load, and process requirements. Fleece-based filters work well for high particulate loads, while pleated depth or membrane prefilters offer higher retention precision for critical bioburden reduction applications.
