Page 37 - Blog

Sterlitech will be in Orlando exhibiting our filtration products at Pittcon 2018. This year, the annual global expo for analytical lab sciences is being held at the Orange County Convention Center. Pittcon brings together a wide variety of laboratory science companies and professionals to showcase the latest technology in our industry.

Last year there were over 14,000 attendees from 88 different countries. Pittcon offers a unique opportunity to participate in product demonstrations, attend seminars and short courses, and connect with technical experts. This is Sterlitech’s 16^th year participating in Pittcon and we are excited to continue sharing our products with the lab science community.

If you are attending the conference, we encourage you to stop by booth #3034 and chat with our representatives.  Please send us an email if you would like to arrange a specific appointment time.  In attendance will be Tauni Wright, Kensen Hirohata, Steve Dulin, Molly Harris, and Mark Spatz.

February is here, and for many research teams across the world, that means it’s time to set sail. Shoulder seasons are an important time to conduct marine research because many algal and microbial species are in bloom. Whether your research has you voyaging the open sea or cruising in coastal waters, Sterlitech is here to stock the ship with all your laboratory filtration needs.

We are proud to have our membrane filters take part in the adventure. Our customers utilize silver, glass fiber, and polycarbonate track etch (PCTE) membrane filters in aquatic research.^{1, 2, 3} These filters travel the seven seas, treating collected sea water samples for retention and analyses of algae, microorganisms, and microscopic particles.^{1, 4}

Track etch polycarbonate membrane filters are particularly well-suited for these applications because they are translucent and have a smooth, flat surface. These features allow for easy microscopic observation, as well as recovery of aquatic microorganisms and

When discussing physical characteristics of filtration media and membranes, researchers often have questions regarding porosity. Sometimes confused with pore size, porosity is defined as the ratio of the void pore volume to the total volume of a membrane1, usually indicated as a percentage. Track-etched membranes have essentially 2-dimensional structures with well-defined pore diameters and pore densities. Consequently, their porosity is equal to the ratio of the pore area to the total surface area and is a relatively straightforward calculation. For other membrane types with complex 3-dimensional structures, it is difficult to accurately quantify porosity.

If the goal of your vacuum filtration is purification using a membrane with an absolute pore size, Sterlitech recommends utilizing glass filter holder assemblies. Compared to Buchner funnels, these systems create a tight seal to prevent liquid bypass around the membrane. Without this seal, the benefit of a highly retentive membrane disappears.

In a recent article, we described how environmental DNA (eDNA) has been used to detect the presence of aquatic species in lakes and rivers. eDNA studies have demonstrated great potential for surveillance of rare, endangered, and invasive species by simply collecting and analyzing water samples from target habitats. Dr. Caren Goldberg, of Washington State University, is one researcher using a unique combination of Sterlitech filters in her investigations of Yangtze giant softshell turtles in southeast Asia, tiger salamanders in California and Arizona, and fairy shrimp in southern California.

Sterlitech’s Hold-up Volume Recovery Kit is designed to enable users to recover residual solution from a cross flow filtration system or a skid mounted system to achieve a total drain. Available in both 110V and 220V, this is essential for applications involving high value or hazardous/corrosive feed solutions when complete recovery of the feed is desired. Each kit includes.

We are pleased to announce our ISO 9001:2015 quality certification for the design, development, and manufacture of filtration products. This award by Perry Johnson Registrars indicates that the quality management system at Sterlitech is designed to increase productivity, streamline processes, and ensure product quality.

Environmental educators in Pensacola are acquainting kids with water filtration in a new, hands-on way. Instead of a class turtle, these students are raising baby oysters. This program is sponsored by the Pensacola Bay Oyster Company and supports a local nonprofit, the Bream Fisherman Association, in its efforts to educate a new generation on marine wildlife preservation. Students contribute to the efforts to expand oyster populations in Pensacola Bay by purchasing and raising baby oysters (spat). It is a challenging and rewarding task, as baby oysters are not easily cared for. They are sensitive to salinity and other environmental changes, and must be maintained in the proper environment 2 feet below the water’s surface. The juvenile oyster cages must be periodically monitored and cleaned. Only after nine months of attention are the oysters mature enough to be placed in reefs or farms.

What is membrane preconditioning and why is it recommended to precondition new flat sheet or spiral wound membranes prior to use? Membrane preconditioning is a filtration step using deionized water as feed solution and is typically performed at a pressure equal to or higher than the anticipated testing pressure. During this process membrane pores are wetted and the membrane structure may go through compaction or swelling, affecting both the permeate flux and the rejection values. Preconditioning will help ensure that the membrane performs according to the specs provided by the manufacturer.

In the spirit of giving, we want to give thanks to all our customers and partners who have made 2017 a wonderful and memorable year. We look forward to continuing to foster these relationships in the years to come.