Core advantages: Lowest protein binding | High flow rate | Thermal stability up to 180°C | Low extractables | Naturally hydrophilic | Sterile & non-sterile options
Availability: In Stock
Cellulose Acetate (CA) Membrane Filter
Description
Hydrophilic cellulose acetate membrane with extremely low protein binding, ideal for protein recovery, enzyme filtration, tissue culture media, and clinical analysis.
What is a Cellulose Acetate (CA) Membrane Filter?
A cellulose acetate (CA) membrane filter is a hydrophilic microporous filtration medium made from pure cellulose acetate. It is characterized by extremely low protein binding, making it one of the best choices for biological and clinical applications where maximum sample recovery is critical.
CA membranes are naturally hydrophilic and suitable for aqueous and many alcoholic media filtration. They offer an optimal balance of high flow rate, thermal stability, and low adsorption, with a smooth surface and uniform pore structure.
Key Features of Cellulose Acetate Membrane Filters
Lowest protein binding – maximizes recovery
Naturally hydrophilic – no pre-wetting needed
High flow rate – superior throughput
Thermal stability up to 180°C
Low extractables – clean, accurate results
Sterile & non-sterile options available
Round disc & roll membrane formats
Wide pore size range: 0.1-5.0µm
Applications (Biological & Clinical Focus)
CA membrane filters are widely used in applications where protein recovery and sample integrity are paramount:
- Protein and enzyme filtration
- Biological and clinical analysis
- Tissue culture media sterilization
- HPLC mobile phase filtration (0.45µm)
- Aqueous solutions & buffer filtration
- Serum and culture media sterilization
- Diagnostic cytology & receptor binding studies
- Cold sterilization of biological fluids
Pore Size Selection Guide
| Pore Size | Best Use Case |
| 0.1 µm | Fine particle removal, ultra-clean filtration |
| 0.22 µm | Sterilizing filtration of aqueous solutions, buffers, serum, and culture media |
| 0.45 µm | HPLC mobile phase filtration, general laboratory clarification |
| 0.8 µm | Particle removal from biological samples |
| 1.0 – 5.0 µm | Coarse prefiltration, high-particulate-load samples |
CA vs Other Membrane Filters
| Membrane Type | Key Property | Best Use Case | Limitation |
| CA (Cellulose Acetate) | Lowest protein binding · Hydrophilic | Biological samples, protein recovery, clinical analysis | Limited solvent resistance (not for acetone/DMF) |
| Nitrocellulose (MCE) | Smoother surface, good contrast | Microbiology, particle detection | Higher protein binding than CA |
| PES | High flow, low protein binding | Biological filtration, buffers | Less chemical resistant than PTFE |
| PTFE | Extreme chemical resistance | Solvents, acids, gases | Hydrophobic, expensive |
| PVDF | Balanced performance | Pharma & bioprocess | Higher cost |
| Nylon | Strong, hydrophilic | HPLC, organic solvent filtration | Higher protein binding |
Key insight: Cellulose acetate membranes have the lowest protein binding among common filtration membranes, making them the top choice when maximum protein recovery is required. Compared with MCE, nylon, and PVDF membranes, CA exhibits the lowest adsorption.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
| Filter Media | Hydrophilic CA (Cellulose Acetate) |
| Pore Sizes | 0.1, 0.22, 0.45, 0.8, 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 µm |
| Diameters | 13, 25, 47, 50, 60, 90, 142, 150, 200, 293, 300 mm |
| Bubble Point (0.22µm) | ≥ 0.31 MPa |
| Bubble Point (0.45µm) | ≥ 0.15 MPa |
| Flow Rate (0.22µm) | ≥ 10 mL/min/cm² @ 1 bar |
| Flow Rate (0.45µm) | ≥ 20 mL/min/cm² @ 1 bar |
| Thickness | 90 – 110 µm |
| pH Range | 3.5 – 8 |
| Max Operating Pressure | 4.2 bar @ 23°C / 1.5 bar @ 85°C |
| Thermal Stability | Up to 180°C |
Scanning Electron Miscroscope Picture
Ordering Information
Available in a wide range of pore sizes and diameters. Below is a partial listing – contact us for complete specifications and custom sizes.
| Item Code | Description | Package(pcs/pk) |
| 11177201 | 0.22(μm), 13(mm) | 400 |
| 11177202 | 0.22(μm), 25(mm) | 200 |
| 11177203 | 0.22(μm), 47(mm) | 100 |
| 11177204 | 0.22(μm), 50(mm) | 100 |
| 11177205 | 0.22(μm), 60(mm) | 50 |
| 11177206 | 0.22(μm), 90(mm) | 50 |
| 11177207 | 0.22(μm), 142(mm) | 50 |
| 11177210 | 0.22(μm), 293(mm) | 50 |
| 11177212 | 0.45(μm), 13(mm) | 400 |
| 11177213 | 0.45(μm), 25(mm) | 200 |
| 11177214 | 0.45(μm), 47(mm) | 100 |
| 11177215 | 0.45(μm), 50(mm) | 100 |
| 11177216 | 0.45(μm), 60(mm) | 50 |
| 11177217 | 0.45(μm), 90(mm) | 50 |
| 11177218 | 0.45(μm), 142(mm) | 50 |
| 11177221 | 0.45(μm), 293(mm) | 50 |
| 11177223 | 0.8(μm), 13(mm) | 400 |
| 11177224 | 0.8(μm), 25(mm) | 200 |
| 11177225 | 0.8(μm), 47(mm) | 100 |
| 11177226 | 0.8(μm), 50(mm) | 100 |
| 11177227 | 0.8(μm), 60(mm) | 50 |
| 11177228 | 0.8(μm), 90(mm) | 50 |
| 11177229 | 0.8(μm), 142(mm) | 50 |
| 11177232 | 0.8(μm), 293(mm) | 50 |
| 11177234 | 5.0(μm), 13(mm) | 400 |
| 11177235 | 5.0(μm), 25(mm) | 200 |
| 11177236 | 5.0(μm), 47(mm) | 100 |
| 11177237 | 5.0(μm), 50(mm) | 100 |
| 11177238 | 5.0(μm), 60(mm) | 50 |
| 11177239 | 5.0(μm), 90(mm) | 50 |
| 11177240 | 5.0(μm), 142(mm) | 50 |
Custom diameters and sterile options available upon request.
Download PDF Datasheet
Why Choose Cellulose Acetate for Biological Filtration?
CA membranes are the preferred choice for biological and clinical applications for several reasons:
- Maximum protein recovery:Lowest protein binding minimizes sample loss
- Superior throughput:High flow rates reduce filtration time and cost
- Sample integrity:Low extractables ensure clean, consistent results
- Thermal stability:Withstands temperatures up to 180°C for hot liquid filtration
- Versatility:Available in sterile and non-sterile formats, multiple pore sizes and diameters
Application Highlight – Protein Recovery in Clinical Analysis
In diagnostic laboratories, CA membrane filters are used to maximize recovery of target proteins from biological samples. Their low protein binding ensures that valuable analytes are not lost during filtration, leading to more accurate test results.
Chemical Compatibility & Limitations
| Chemical Type | Compatibility | Notes |
| Aqueous solutions | Excellent | Naturally hydrophilic |
| Low molecular weight alcohols | Good | Ethanol, IPA, methanol |
| Common HPLC solvents | Good | Stable against DMSO |
| Aggressive organic solvents | Limited | Not suitable for acetone, DMF, THF |
| Strong acids / bases | Limited | pH range 3.5-8 |
Need the full technical datasheet?
Get detailed specifications, chemical compatibility charts, and dimensional drawings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cellulose acetate membrane filter used for?
CA membrane filters are used for filtration of aqueous solutions, protein and enzyme filtration, biological and clinical analysis, and tissue culture media sterilization.
Is cellulose acetate membrane hydrophilic?
Yes, CA membranes are naturally hydrophilic, making them ideal for aqueous and many alcoholic media filtration.
Does cellulose acetate membrane have low protein binding?
Yes, CA membranes exhibit very low protein binding, which minimizes sample loss and maximizes protein recovery.
What is the difference between CA and nitrocellulose membranes?
CA membranes have lower protein binding and better chemical resistance than nitrocellulose. Mixed Cellulose Ester (MCE) combines both and has a smoother, more uniform surface.
Can cellulose acetate membrane filter organic solvents?
CA membranes have good resistance to low molecular weight alcohols and many common HPLC solvents, but are not suitable for aggressive organic solvents like acetone or DMF.
What pore size should I choose for sterilization?
For sterilizing filtration of aqueous solutions, buffers, serum, and culture media, use 0.22 µm CA membrane filters.
What is the thermal stability of CA membranes?
Cellulose acetate membranes are thermally stable up to 180°C, making them suitable for hot liquid and hot gas filtration.
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