Critical lab diagnostics aided by new water filtration technology

04/01/2005

By Steve Smith

EAST HILLS, N.Y.-A point-of-use water purification technology, designed specifically for research and diagnostic laboratories, is promising to deliver high-purity water through a series of separation and purification steps. Pall Corp.’s (www.pall.com) Cascada lab water system combines four polishing systems with customized configurations designed to meet a wide range of sensitive applications required for high-quality, ultrapure water in the lab.

The system marks Pall’s initial venture into the lab water purification arena. Ken Harris, president of Pall Life Sciences New Technology, says the technology is designed “to monitor and protect the quality of the output water at the least cost of ownership for academic, clinical, biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical research laboratories.”

The Cascada technology, Pall says, removes endotoxins to make purified water suitable for such contamination-critical applications as cell culture, in-vitro fertilization, and monoclonal antibody production.

The Cascada lab water purification system, developed by Pall Corp., features four proprietary polishing systems and ultraviolet radiation to eliminate bacteria, microbial impurities, and particles from water required for critical life-science applications.Click here to enlarge image

Pretreated water enters the system, passes through a flow sensor, and is pumped through a primary purification pack that removes most impurities. Purified water then flows directly through an ultraviolet (UV) chamber where it is exposed to intense radiation at wavelengths of 185 and 254 nanometers, which Pall claims provides continuous bacterial control and photo-oxidation of any residual organic impurities. Any remaining impurities are removed by a second polishing purification pack. An ultrafiltration membrane removes pyrogens, other microbial impurities, and other remaining particles.

Harris says Pall plans to use its proprietary water purification technologies in additional systems that will be designed to further refine lab water processes. “The lab water market continues to expand, and rapid technological growth in regions of the world, such as Asia and Latin America, still have many unmet needs,” Harris observes. “We are confident that we will be one of the leading providers of point-of-use laboratory water systems in the near future.” III