A portfolio of small cartridges for critical point-of-use and small batch filtration of liquids and gases
Meissner offers small cartridge filters for lab scale and product development applications. All small cartridge filters can be specified with wide range of media options and offer superior performance for clarification, purification and pre-filtration through sterilizing-grade filtration. Our small cartridge filters provide high flow rates, low protein binding and broad chemical compatibility. For critical applications, we offer membrane options including PVDF, PES, polypropylene (PP) and PTFE. We also offer polypropylene microfiber, glass fiber and depth filter media options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Meissner small filter cartridges?
Meissner small filter cartridges are compact pleated filters designed for low-flow liquid and gas filtration in laboratory, pilot, and small batch processes. They are commonly used for product development, critical point-of-use filtration, and other applications where smaller housings and where flow requirements are less than 3 gpm (11 L min-1) or 60 scfm (102 Nm3hr-1) are preferred.
What are small filter cartridges used for?
Small filter cartridges are used for clarification, prefiltration, bioburden reduction, sterilizing-grade filtration, and vent filtration in lab-scale and pilot-scale operations. They are especially useful in development work, small batch processing, and critical point-of-use applications where process flexibility and compact system design are important.
When should I use a small filter cartridge instead of a full-size cartridge?
Use a small filter cartridge when your process has lower flow requirements, smaller batch sizes, or limited installation space. They are often the better choice for lab and pilot systems, while full-size cartridges are typically used for higher flow rates and larger production-scale filtration.
What filter media options are available in Meissner small filter cartridges?
Meissner small filter cartridges are available with a wide range of membrane and depth media, including hydrophilic and hydrophobic options for both liquid and gas filtration. Media choices support applications such as aqueous filtration, solvent compatibility, sterile venting, clarification, and prefiltration.
What is the difference between SFE and SKR filters?
SFE, or Small Flow Element, refers to Meissner’s standard small cartridge format for low-flow filtration. SKR filters use a skirt-flange style sealing design intended for compatibility with specific housings, making them useful when a particular housing fit or sealing format is required.
What are the main benefits of Meissner small filter cartridges?
Meissner small filter cartridges are designed to provide strong filtration performance in a compact format. Key benefits include high flow efficiency for their size, low extractables, broad chemical compatibility, and thermally bonded construction that eliminates adhesives and resins from the filter structure.
Are Meissner small filter cartridges suitable for biopharmaceutical applications?
Yes. Meissner small filter cartridges are well suited for high-purity biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical applications, including development work, pilot processing, clarification, bioburden reduction, and sterile filtration where consistent performance and clean processing are important.
What sizes are available for small filter cartridges?
Meissner small filter cartridges are commonly available in compact lengths such as 2.5 inch and 5 inch formats for use in small flow housings. These sizes help support low-flow applications while maintaining the benefits of pleated cartridge filtration.
Can small filter cartridges be used in single-use systems?
Yes. Small filter cartridges can be integrated into single-use and hybrid process setups where compact filtration is needed. They are often used alongside single-use assemblies, capsule filters, and fluid path components to support flexible low-volume processing.