Function of a Pyrogen Filter
A pyrogen filter is a specialized filter used in water purification to remove pyrogens—fever-inducing substances, mainly endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides or LPS from the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria). These filters are especially important in pharmaceutical production, medical applications, and dialysis systems.
How It Works
Pyrogen filters typically use ultrafiltration membranes or special adsorption materials to remove pyrogens from water. Key features include:
- Pore Size: Typically smaller than 0.005 µm (ultrafiltration range) to retain even dissolved endotoxins.
- Materials: Often made from hydrophilic polyethersulfone (PES) or similar membranes with high endotoxin retention.
- Adsorption: Some filters include materials that bind endotoxins via electrostatic or hydrophobic interactions.
Applications
- Pharmaceutical Industry
- Production of Water for Injection (WFI)
- Purification steps in sterile drug manufacturing
- Integrated in ultrapure water systems
- Medical Applications
- Dialysis water treatment: Prevents pyrogenic reactions in patients
- Parenteral nutrition solutions
- Irrigation solutions for eyes or wounds
- Laboratories and Research
- Preparation of pyrogen-free water for cell culture or molecular biology (e.g., PCR)
- Used in animal testing to avoid immune reactions
- Biotechnology and Food Industry
- Used in sensitive production processes requiring microbiological purity
Pyrogen filter A pyrogen filter is a special type of filter used in water treatment to remove pyrogens from the water. Pyrogens are substances that can cause an immunological reaction in the body, in particular an increase in body temperature. These are usually endotoxins released by bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E. coli). The pyrogen filter consists of a filter element with a very fine pore size and an associated filter housing. The pyrogen filter is available with filter elements of 0.05, 0.1 or 0.2 micrometres, which you can select as required. This enables the filter to effectively retain particles and microorganisms, including pyrogenic bacteria that may be present in the water. In the modular water treatment plant, the pyrogen filter is used after other pre-treatment stages such as filtration and disinfection. After the water has been purified of particles and microorganisms, it is passed through a pyrogen filter to remove any pyrogens. Pyrogen filters are particularly important in industries where pyrogen-free water is crucial, such as in outpatient care, to ensure the optimal quality of surgical instruments. Overall, pyrogen filters play an important role in water treatment to ensure the quality and purity of the water and minimise potential exposure to pyrogenic substances.