Sterlitech is pleased to announce that you can now find the dyed polycarbonate membrane filters on their new product page, https://www.sterlitech.com/dyed-polycarbonate-membranes.html. These hydrophilic, polycarbonate track-etch (PCTE) membrane filters have been pigmented using black dye to minimize membrane autofluorescence. The dyed PCTE membrane filters are ideal for use with fluorescence microscopy analyses that involve direct observation and enumeration of animal cells or microorganisms that have been labeled with fluorescent markers. They are also suitable for optical microscopy studies of light colored particles and microorganisms by providing a dark background for enhanced contrast.
The chemically resistant and thermally stable polyether ether ketone (PEEK) membranes from Novamem Switzerland are now available with 5nm pore size rating. The membranes are available as 25mm disks, 47mm disks, and 10x10cm coupons. They are also available as CF016, CF042, and Sepa cuts.
Aquaporin hollow fiber membrane modules for forward osmosis studies are now available from Sterlitech. AQP HFFO2 is a cross flow membrane module containing Aquaporin Inside™ hollow fiber membranes. With an Aquaporin Inside™ coating on the interior surface of the hollow fibers (lumen side), the feed solution is circulated in the lumen and the draw solution is circulated in the shell.
In last October’s newsletter, Sterlitech announced the availability of kits for performing the Kato-Katz analysis technique for Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) in field-based applications, signifying the first time that these kits were available from a source in the United States. Prior to this, the efforts of research groups and health organizations could be hampered by limited availability. Recognizing the global health need, Sterlitech developed the kits to ensure a consistent and reliable supply. We are pleased to announce that, in less than a year, Sterlitech has already supplied enough Kato-Katz Kits to perform 87,000 diagnostic tests.
Filtering organic solvents for applications such as HPLC buffer prep can be challenging in order to ensure chemical compatibility with filters (PVDF, Nylon, or PTFE), preserving longevity of an HPLC column, or containment of toxic fumes, but finding a suitable and comprehensive vacuum system is now easier than ever.
Membrane filtration is an effective way to remove pollutants and microorganisms from water and wastewater. However, membrane fouling lowers efficiency over time when considering rejection values and water flux. Fouling is typically biological or particulate; fouling rate is a function of the membrane pore size relative to the size of the foulants and also the interactions between the membrane and the foulants. Membrane surface charges and affinity for water directly affect membrane biofouling intensity. Applying electric charge to the membrane surface is one of the methods that has been recently trending for mitigating biofouling [1]. Use of an electroconductive nano-carbon-based membrane has also been reported for mitigating membrane fouling by integrating membrane filtration [2].
Did you know that Sterlitech offers 16 different material types of microporous membrane and media disk filters? The available combinations of materials, pore, and disk sizes, equates to well over 1000 unique filters. To many, that may sound like an overwhelming selection to choose from, whether you’re unsure where to start, have narrowed down your selection to one or a few material types, or have a clear range of pore sizes to stay within for optimal separation; in any case, we can help to further refine your selection.
There’s no shortage of news stories on a tiny bacterium continuing to cause big trouble; Legionella. In a recent search of Google News, 1800 different stories from across the globe are revealed for June of this year when searched strictly against the term “Legionella.” Illustrations of how serious a threat is this bacterium can be are seen across the variety of the news stories; from people becoming infected after using contaminated showers in gyms, hotels, hospitals, to babies born in birthing pools, basic residential water supplies, and even a simple backyard garden hose. So, what is this nasty little microorganism, and why is it still causing trouble? To look closer, let’s revisit two newsletter stories Sterlitech originally published back in December 2010 and April 2011 respectively.
NADIR flat sheet membranes from Microdyn-NADIR are now available. NADIR Polyethersulfone (PES) membranes are offered in a wide range of MWCO: 4, 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, and 150kDa in addition to the 150kDa Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and 500kDa Regenerated Cellulose (RC) membranes. Addition of NADIR membranes to the Sterlitech product line fills the gaps in our membrane flat sheet offering MWCO spectrum. NADIR membranes are designed for municipal and industrial applications. These are permanently hydrophilic and chemically resistant, increasing performance and longevity of the membranes and significantly reducing fouling.
Purchase of each package listed on the sheet below includes one carboy, the standard closed-cap and open-cap adapter as well as two additional Quick-Connect VersaCaps, one with 2 hose-barb ports and one with 3 hose-barb ports for easy filling, siphoning, and/or venting.