2

Superior Gel Reduction Provided by APT

Normally a small amount of gel particles can be found in DI

water and chemicals. Their reduction from these fluids is highly

dependent on differential pressure across the filtration system.

Since these gels are deformable, they can extrude through a filter

at high differential pressures. At low differential pressures, the

forces that would deform gels are correspondingly lower and

the gels are retained by the membrane media. 3M Purification

has been able to maximize filtration surface area, which assures

a low differential pressure, making it ideal for gel reduction.

The increase infiltration surface area is achieved by using the

Advanced Pleat Technology.

The service life of a pleated filter cartridge is often dictated

by the accessible surface area. Conventional pleated filters may

offer a large gross surface area, but when the media is packed

into the cartridge, only part of the surface area is used resulting

in both flow restrictions and limited contaminant holding

capacity. The “blind” or unused area commonly occurs near

the inside diameter (Figure 2) where the pleats are most

is manufactured using a staggered and stepped configuration

(Figure 3) which reduces the open space between the outside

pleats. This novel technology maximizes capacity by increasing

the open area which allows for greater particle loading at the

inside diameter, while the shorter stepped pleats take advantage

of existing open space closer to the outside diameter of the

cartridge. The result is a fully used surface area that provides

superior filter life.

Enhanced Filter Lifetime

The data in Chart 1 illustrates the through put advantage of the

LifeASSURE IMC filter — indicative of both enhanced service

life and greater contaminant holding capacity. When compared

to competitive products, the available grades of LifeASSURE

IMC allow the users to select equivalent effluent quality

with vastly superior life, or, improve the effluent quality with

reduced, yet competitively superior, service life. Either way the

result is the same —LifeASSURE IMC filters allow significantly

more through put than competitive filters and provide as much

as twice the service life.

Benefits of Higher Per-Cartridge Flow Rates

The novel construction of the LifeASSURE IMC results

in a higher per cartridge flow rate at the same pressure drop

as compared to competitive filters. This can reduce filtration

costs two ways:

Less Frequent Filter Change-outs — For existing applications

at a given flow rate, filter cartridges with more surface area

per cartridge have a lower flux (flow per unit surface area)

than filters cartridges with less surface area. Since filter life

time is inversely proportional to flux (lower flux = longer filter

life) in most applications. LifeASSURE IMC filter cartridges

provide longer life and require fewer filter cartridge change-outs.

Reduced Filter Housing Costs — A filter cartridge that can

deliver a higher flow rate at the same pressure drop when

compared to competitive products will reduce filtration costs

because fewer filters are required for the system. This in turn,

allows for the use of smaller and less costly filter housings

which reduces initial capital investment, filter change-out

time, and total cost-of-owner ship for the life of the process.

Chart 2 provides the typical flow rate vs. pressure drop data

for the three grades of LifeASSURE IMC (0.1 μm, 0.2 μm and

0.45 μm) available.

Figure 2. Conventional Pleat Design

Figure 3. Advanced Pleat Technology

Chart 1. Comparative Throughput

0

1 0

20

30

40

5 0

60

7 0

80

90

100

IMC

Competitor P

Competitor Y