| Sterlitech™
Silver Membranes: Cleaning Guidelines
Sterlitech’s Silver Metal
Membrane Filters can be cleaned and reused repeatedly. The membranes
should be cleaned immediately after each use, and handled carefully
to avoid membrane punctures and tears. Various cleaning procedures
can be used, depending on the nature, type, and degree of contamination.
There are four effective cleaning methods outlined below, that can
be used to clean Sterlitech’s silver metal membrane filters.
Chemical Cleaning
Immerse in a strong alkaline
solution, a solvent, or an acid. Do not immerse in nitric acid,
sulfuric acid, or cyanide solutions.
Ignition Cleaning
Place the silver metal membrane
filter in a laboratory muffle furnace for approximately ½ hour to
effectively remove organic contaminants from the membrane. Do not
exceed the following temperatures.
| Retention
Rating
(microns)
|
Maximum
Temperature |
| °C
|
°F
|
| 5.0
|
550
|
1020
|
| 3.0
|
400
|
750
|
| 1.2
|
350
|
660
|
| 0.8
|
300
|
570
|
| 0.45
|
300
|
570
|
| 0.2
|
250
|
480
|
Combination Cleaning
A combination of chemical
and ignition cleaning may be the best method to completely regenerate
the membrane. Immerse in a 10 percent concentration of hydrofluoric
acid for ten minutes, followed by ignition cleaning in a muffle
furnace, following the guidelines given above. This can allow for
reuse of membrane up to 10 times.
Ultrasonic Cleaning
Low intensity ultrasonics
can be used to lean the silver metal membrane. The cleaning intensity
and time will depend on the degree and type of contamination encountered.
Do not use high intensity ultrasonics.
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