High-Performance Filter Media for Liquid/Solid Separation
Selecting the right filter media is critical for optimizing performance, reducing operational costs, and ensuring long-term reliability. Sparkler® Filters offers a comprehensive selection of premium filter media designed to meet the demands of industries including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food & beverage, and mining.
This page focuses on the specific filter media we offer. To learn more about filter media in general — including common principles and terminology — click here.
Available in absolute and nominal micron ratings to capture particles from <1 micron to 100+ microns, ensuring flexibility in filtration efficiency for various applications.
Ideal for both filtrate clarification and high-efficiency solids recovery applications
Each filtration application requires specific media to optimize efficiency, compatibility, and cost-effectiveness. Sparkler® Filters offers the following filter media types:
Cellulose (Most Popular Media)
Advantages : Easy to use, high heat resistance, low cost, and compatible with most chemistries.
Disadvantages : Not for use with self-cleaning vertical plate filters.
Applications : Ideal for food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and general-purpose filtration. Most common filter media for horizontal plate filters.
Temperature Resistance : Up to 451°F.
Polypropylene (PP) Media
Advantages : Cost-effective, great chemical resistance, durable, and light. Often used as a standalone filter media or as a supporting substrate for Teflon membranes. Cleans easily in both Wet and Dry Cake discharge configurations on self-cleaning vertical plate filters.
Applications : Chemical processing, mining, and metallurgy where chemical resistance and affordability are key factors. Most common filter media on vertical plate filters in both VF and MCRO configurations.
Temperature Resistance : Up to 180°F.
Polyester
Advantages : Durable, good chemical resistance, cost effective, suitable for medium-heat applications.
Advantages : Ability to reach micron efficiencies under .5 micron. Superior chemical resistance and heat tolerance, hydrophobic and non-shedding for sterile applications. Typically combined with a polypropylene substrate for added durability and cost efficiencies, but alternative substrates such as polyester or Teflon can be selected for applications requiring higher temperature resistance beyond 180°F. Reusable in select applications depending on process conditions.
Disadvantages : Very high cost compared to alternative options. 50-100X first cost of cellulose. Requires application-specific testing to determine feasibility, diminishing return threshold, and overall cost-effectiveness.
Applications : High-purity pharmaceutical filtration, aggressive chemical processes, high-temperature applications and general-purpose filtration where sub-micron retention is required and where diatomaceous earth (DE) is not chemically compatible or feasible
Temperature Resistance : Up to 500°F.
Rayon
Advantages : Excellent absorbency, blends well with polyester to create a unique chemical compatibility and excellent flow characteristics.
Disadvantages : Applications: Pharmaceuticals, specialty chemical processes.
Temperature Resistance : Up to 300°F.
Wire Mesh Filtration
Advantages : Wire mesh is highly durable, chemically resistant, and reusable, making it an environmentally friendly choice for industrial applications. It is an excellent option for applications requiring filtration above 50 microns, providing robust performance in high-load environments. It excels in high-temperature environments and is particularly effective when combined with DE or perlite pre-coating to achieve ultra-fine filtration below 0.5 microns.
Disadvantages : While wire mesh excels in applications above 50 microns, reaching finer filtration efficiencies can be challenging without blinding. The use of filter aids is recommended to maintain flow rates and prevent clogging in sub-50 micron applications.
Applications : Ideal for demanding applications such as mining, chemical processing, specialty chemicals, and heavy-duty industrial filtration, where durability, reusability, and high-temperature resistance are essential.
Temperature Resistance : Greater than 500°F.
DE (Diatomaceous Earth) or AC (Activated Carbon) Impregnated Filter Media
Advantages : Convenient. Clean operation.
Disadvantages : Largely inefficient compared to traditional DE precoat or AC blending. While we still supply in unique circumstances, Sparkler typically advocates for the traditional methods as the differences in effectiveness are largely quantifiable.
Applications : Food and Beverage.
Temperature Resistance : Varies.
With nearly a century of expertise, Sparkler® Filters has successfully implemented filter media across thousands of applications, including:
Pharmaceuticals & API Filtration : Sterile-grade filtration with non-shedding, FDA-compliant media. Certificate of Conformance, Lot Number Tracking, Digital and Physical security protocols, enhanced cyber security, documented pest control, quality control tracking, SDS, TSA Statement, and many other options available to address the highest controlled substance and pharmaceutical-grade standards. Cellulose is the preferred media type for most pharma applications due to its FDA classification, simplicity and overall effectiveness down to 1.5 microns.
Food & Beverage : Clarification of juices, syrups, edible oils, and brewing applications. Certificate of Conformance, Lot Number Tracking, quality control tracking, enhanced cyber security, Digital and Physical clean storage, security protocols, documented pest control, SDS, TSA, Non-GMO, Allergen Statements, and many other options available to address the highest controlled substance and pharmaceutical -grade standards. Cellulose is the preferred media type for most food and beverage applications due to its FDA classification, simplicity and overall effectiveness down to 1.5 microns.
Chemical Processing : We supply filter media for thousands of applications of all kinds, from low and high acidic and corrosive environments, lethal and hazardous service, pyrophoric and water-reactive applications, extreme temperatures, highly viscous liquids, high resistance solids, and much more. We have successfully handled a variety of challenges, including a molten sulfur application in Canada that has been in continuous service since 1979. Cellulose is the preferred media choice for chemical processes when compatibility allows followed by polypropylene for corrosive or acidic environments. PTFE or wire mesh may be the selected choice in both hazardous and high heat variables apply.
Mining & Metallurgy : Precious metal recovery, including gold mining and Merrill-Crowe processes, copper mining and refinement, solvent extraction, lithium mining, soda ash recovery, and much more. Polypropylene bags tend to be the most used filter media industrial vertical leaf self-cleaning mining applications when temperature allows, it is followed closely by wire mesh due to its durability and versatility in extreme conditions.
Need guidance in selecting the right media? Our experts are here to help. Contact us today.
Micron Ratings :
Ranges from 0.1 micron (membrane or filter aid applications) to 100+ microns.
Temperature Ratings :
Polypropylene: Up to 180°F
Polyester : Up to 302°F
PTFE (Teflon):Up to 500°F
Cellulose: Up to 451°F
Air Permeability (CFM Ratings) :
Standardized through Frasier testing, ensuring predictable performance.
Chemical Compatibility :
Options available for extreme pH, solvents, and high-temperature applications.
Detailed Specifications :
Weight, wet burst, tensile strength, thickness and other specifications available on a case-by-case basis.