GE Healthcare

18-1165-31 AC Membrane separations

Selecting a cross flow cartridge

Four key questions
To ensure your separations process operates successfully
and efficiently, you must select the proper cartridge. Selecting
the proper cartridge, however, requires some technical
preparation. For example, which of the 500 GE Healthcare
cartridge filters should you select? How does the multitude of
process variables influence cartridge selection? To understand
the cartridge selection process, you must be able to answer
these four questions:

1 Process considerations—How do process

variables influence cartridge selection?

2 Membrane performance—What size molecules

or bacteria will a cartridge retain?

3 Cartridge specifications—What fiber diameter

and membrane surface area can you use?

4 Cartridge model numbers—How do you identify

and order the right cartridge?
1 How do process variables influence
cartridge selection?
Process variables influence cartridge selection. While
understanding the magnitude of the influences requires
experience and technical knowledge, the basic relationship
between process variables and cartridge selection remain
similar (Table 1).

Table 1. The influences of process variables in selecting a cross flow cartridge

Process variables Selection consideration

Cell concentration Use microfiltration or open ultrafiltration cartridges for bacteria
Cell protein separation removal and cell concentration. Select membrane pore size
based on the specific application.
Virus removal Use ultrafiltration cartridges for molecular-scale applications
Protein concentration such as desalting and protein concentration.
Desalting
Solutions variables Selection consideration
Solids loading High solids loading and high viscosity fluids work best with
Viscosity larger hollow fibers and longer lengths. With fluids that are not
Shear sensitivity shear sensitive, you can use small diameter fibers.
Volume As volumes increase, you typically increase the cartridge
housing size and membrane surface area to shorten
production time. You can consider multiple cartridges in series
or parallel configuration.
Temperature As temperature decreases, the efficiency of filtration often
decreases, and larger cartridges might be appropriate. For
example, cold-room processing at 4°C can take twice as long
as room temperature processing.
Other variables Selection consideration
Time constraints Increased membrane area and larger housing size shorten
production time.
Pump constraints Larger diameter (large surface area) cartridges with many
large fibers require pumps with high flow rate capacities.
Heat sterilization Choose autoclavable or steam-in-place models.
Retrofit To retrofit an existing system, cartridge dimensions and
connection hardware must be compatible with the existing
system.

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2 What size molecules or bacteria will a
cartridge retain?
To match a cross flow cartridge to an application, you must
know how the membrane in the cartridge performs under
standard conditions. For example, if the goal of the
application is to retain E. coli, what membrane pore size
should you consider? To answer such questions, you can use
membrane performance data (Table 2 and Table 3). Table 4
puts the membrane performance numbers into perspective
by providing you with practical pore size recommendations
for common applications. Normally, you would test the
selection with a small scale trial. Table 5 lists the membrane
pore sizes available in ultrafiltration and microfiltration
cartridges.

Table 2. Membrane performance data for retaining bacteria

Membrane Challenge Organism concentration

pore size Organism (organisms/ml) in permeate
0.45 μm Saccharomyces
cerevisiae 5.0 × 10E+7 Undetectable
0.45 μm E. coli 6.0 × 10E+9 Undetectable
0.2 μm Serratia marcesens 3.1 × 10E+7 Undetectable
0.2 μm E. coli 6.0 × 10E+9 Undetectable
0.2 μm Brevundimonas
diminuta ATCC 19146 2.5 × 10E+7 Undetectable
0.1 μm E. coli 6.0 × 10E+9 Undetectable
500,000 NMWC* E. coli 6.0 × 10E+9 Undetectable
500,000 NMWC Giardia muris 1.5 × 10E+5 Undetectable
500,000 NMWC Cryptosporidium
paryum 8.2 × 10E+4 Undetectable
*nominal molecular weight cutoff

Table 3. Membrane performance data for retaining molecules

Percent solute rejection at nominal molecular weight cutoff*
Solute
molecular
Solute weight 1,000 3,000 5,000 10,000 30,000 100,000 300,000 500,000 750,000
MgSO4 n/a 6 1
PVP K15 10,000 80 75
PVP K30 40,000 90 70
PVP K90 630,000 95 90 80 60
* Percent rejection = 1 – (permeate concentration ÷ feed concentration) × 100

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In practical terms, for product concentration, choose a
nominal molecular weight cutoff (NMWC) pore size that is
three to five times smaller than the target protein or molecule
you want to concentrate on the retentate side. For product
clarification and contaminant removal, choose a NMWC pore
size that is ten times greater than the target protein or
molecule you want to collect in the permeate.

Table 4. Recommended membrane pore size for select application

Ultrafiltration Microfiltration
Application (NMWC) (μm)
Bacterial/pyrogen removal 10,000
Protein concentration 3,000, 5,000, 10,000, 30,000
Enzyme concentration 10,000, 30,000, 50,000
Virus concentration/purification/removal 100,000, 300,000, 500,000, 750,000
Protein/antigen recovery from fermentation broth 500,000, 750,000 0.1, 0.2, 0.45, 0.65
Bacterial cell concentration 500,000, 0.1, 0.2
Insect cell concentration 0.1, 0.2
Mammalian cell concentration 0.2, 0.45, 0.65
Yeast concentration 0.1, 0.2, 0.45
Continuous cell culture perfusion 0.1, 0.2, 0.45
Red blood cell washing 0.45, 0.65
Red blood cell stroma removal 500,000 0.1
Hemoglobin concentration 5,000, 10,000
Peptide concentration 1,000, 3,000

Table 5. Membrane pore size availability

Ultrafiltration Microfiltration
(NMWC) (μm)
1,000 0.1
3,000 0.2
5,000 0.45
10,000 0.65
30,000
50,000
100,000
300,000
500,000
750,000

Figure 1. A partial selection of the fittings available on GE Healthcare cartridge filters

4 Sales Aid 18-1165-31 AC

3 What fiber diameter and membrane
surface area can you use?
The inside diameter of the fibers in GE Healthcare cartridges
range from 0.25 to 1.75 mm. Use larger diameter fibers for
solutions with high suspended solids, high cell densities, and
high viscosity (Table 6 and Fig 2).
The membrane surface area inside GE Healthcare cartridges
ranges from 16 cm2 to 28 m2. Use larger surface area
cartridges with larger process volumes or to shorten
processing time (Table 7).
You can order GE Healthcare cartridges with various fittings
and in various configurations (Figure 1). See the user manual
Selection handbook, hollow fiber cartridges and systems for
membrane separations for additional information about
fittings and physical dimensions.

Table 6. Selecting the proper fiber diameter

Solution characteristics Membrane

Fiber
Type Suspended solids Viscosity Lumen ID (mm) diameter code
Clarified feed streams None Low 0.25, 0.5 B, C
(proteins and viral preps)
Pyrogen-free water
E.coli Moderate Moderate O.75, 1 D, E
Mammalian cells
Yeast cells
Blood products
Yeast cells High High 1.75 G
Fungal cells
Mycelial cells

0.5 mm, code C 0.75 mm, code D 1 mm, code E

Figure 2. Cross-sectional view of cartridges showing fibers

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Table 7. Nominal cartridge specifications

MidGee™ Cartridges Pilot and process scale cartridges

Housing ID Membrane area Housing ID Membrane area
identifier (mm) (cm2) identifier (mm) (ft) (m)
MM 0.25 25 35 0.25 29 2.7
0.5 26 35SMO 0.5 14.5 1.35
0.75 24 35STM 0.75 10.8 1
1 16 1 9.9 0.92
H22 0.75 29 37 1 10.2 0.95
1 38 45 0.5 37 3.5
H24 0.5 42 0.75 28.5 2.65
H42 0.5 41 1 27 2.5
1 73 45MSM 1 25 2.3
55 0.5 35 3.25
55SMO 0.75 27 2.5
55STM 1 23 2.1
Lab and pilot scale cartridges
65 0.5 66 6.1
Housing ID Membrane area
identifier (mm) (ft) (m) 1 47 4.4
3M 0.25 0.4 0.037 65MSM 0.5 60 5.6
0.5 0.15 0.014 1 45 4.2
0.75 0.13 0.012 75 0.5 60 6
1 0.12 0.011 1 40 3.7
3X2M 0.5 0.31 0.029 85 0.5 140 13
1 0.24 0.023 1 97 9
4, 4M 0.25 1.29 0.12 85MSM 1 95 9
0.5 0.7 0.065 152M 0.5 140 18
0.75 0.5 0.046 1 102 9.5
1 0.45 0.042 154M 0.5 300 28
4X2M 0.5 1.5 0.14 1 205 19
1 0.9 0.085
5 0.25 4 0.375
0.5 2.1 0.2
0.75 1.7 0.16
1 1.3 0.12
6 0.5 5.2 0.48
0.75 4 0.37
1 3 0.28
8 0.25 9.7 0.9
0.5 5.7 0.53
0.75 4.4 0.41
1 3.9 0.36
9 0.5 12.5 1.15
0.75 10 0.93
1 9 0.84

6 Sales Aid 18-1165-31 AC

4 How do you identify and order the right
cartridge?
To identify and order the proper cross flow cartridge, you
must understand the model numbering convention. Each
group of numbers or letters in the model number represents
information about the cartridge.

UFP–100–E–5A
Type of cartridge

UFP = Ultrafiltration Other designation

CFP = Microfiltration
A = Autoclavable
L = Luer-Lok™ connectors
R = Retrofit
Pore size

UFP = NMWC × 1,000 Housing identifier and

CFP = microns × 0.1 nominal housing dimensions

MM06 = 0.3 × 30 cm, MidGeeTM Luer-Lok fittings, 6 fibers

MM12 = 0.3 × 30 cm, MidGee Luer-Lok fittings, 12 fibers
MM24 = 0.3 × 30 cm, MidGee Luer-Lok fittings, 24 fibers
H22 = 0.3 × 60 cm, MidGee HoopTM, 2 fibers
H24 = 0.3 × 60 cm, MidGee Hoop, 4 fibers
Fiber Diameter
H42 = 0.3 × 124 cm, MidGee Hoop, 2 fibers
B = 0.25 mm 3M = 0.9 × 30 cm, Xampler™ (3/4-in TC fittings)
C = 0.5 mm 3X2M = 0.9 × 60 cm, Xampler (3/4-in TC fittings)
D = 0.75 mm 4 = 1.9 × 30 cm, Xampler (3/8-in barb fittings)
E = 1 mm 4M = 1.9 × 30 cm, Xampler (3/4-in TC fittings)
G = 1.75 mm 4X2M = 1.9 × 60 cm, Xampler (3/4-in TC fittings)

Examples of catalog numbers

MidGee CFP–4–C–MM24A
MidGee Hoop UFP–300–C–H24LA
Xampler UFP–750–E–3MA

Figure 3. Key to cartridge model number conventions

Sales Aid 18-1165-31 AC 7

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and features shown herein, or discontinue the product described
at any time without notice or obligation.
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18-1165-31 AC 06/2006