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Cartridge filters and consumables
Cartridge Filters for Water Treatment and Process Use
Cartridge filters are replaceable filter elements rated from 0.2 to 100 micrometres in 10, 20, 30 and 40 inch lengths. They protect membranes and process equipment from particulate, and are specified by micron rating, length, end-cap type and media chemistry, all of which must match the housing.
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Answer first
What Cartridge Filters Are, and How They Are Specified
Cartridge filters are replaceable filter elements rated from 0.2 to 100 micrometres in 10, 20, 30 and 40 inch lengths. They protect membranes and process equipment from particulate, and are specified by micron rating, length, end-cap type and media chemistry, all of which must match the housing.
Cartridge filtration is the highest-frequency consumable in water treatment and the cheapest place to protect a membrane. A set of cartridges costs a small fraction of a set of RO elements, and the whole point of the stage is that it is sacrificed instead of the membrane.
Four things have to match, not one. Micron rating decides what is retained, length decides capacity, end-cap type decides whether it seals in your housing, and media chemistry decides whether it survives the stream. A correct micron rating in the wrong end cap does not seal, and an unsealed cartridge filters nothing.
Choose a type
Cartridge Filters by Type
Each type below has its own page with a full specification table, selection guidance and its own enquiry route.
PP Spun Filter Cartridges
PP spun filter cartridges are thermally bonded polypropylene depth filters rated from 1 to 100 micrometres, supplied in 10, 20, 30 and 40 inch lengths.
Pleated Filter Cartridges
Pleated filter cartridges use folded media to present a much larger surface area than a depth cartridge of the same size, giving longer life at the same micron rating.
Melt Blown Cartridges
Melt blown cartridges are polypropylene depth filters produced by extruding fibre directly onto a forming core, typically with graded density that is coarser at the outside and finer toward the centre.
Activated Carbon Cartridges
Activated carbon cartridges adsorb free chlorine, chloramine, taste, odour and dissolved organics.
PES Membrane Cartridges
PES membrane cartridges use polyethersulfone membrane rated from 0.1 to 0.65 micrometres.
PTFE Membrane Cartridges
PTFE membrane cartridges use polytetrafluoroethylene membrane rated from 0.2 to 1.0 micrometres.
PVDF Membrane Cartridges
PVDF membrane cartridges use polyvinylidene fluoride membrane rated from 0.1 to 0.65 micrometres, available in hydrophilic and hydrophobic forms.
0.22 Micron Filters
0.22 micron filters are the sterilising grade used in pharmaceutical manufacturing, microbiology and sterile process filtration.
0.45 Micron Filters
0.45 micron filters are used for water analysis, particle counting, sample clarification and general laboratory filtration.
Specification
Cartridge types and duty
| Type | Typical rating | Construction | Chosen for |
|---|---|---|---|
| PP spun | 1–100 µm | Depth, thermally bonded polypropylene | General RO pre-filtration, the default |
| Melt blown | 1–100 µm | Depth, graded density | Higher dirt-holding than a single-density cartridge |
| Pleated | 0.2–50 µm | Surface, pleated media | Longer life at the same rating, often cleanable |
| Activated carbon | Nominal 5–20 µm | Block or granular carbon | Chlorine and organics removal ahead of polyamide membranes |
| PES membrane | 0.1–0.65 µm | Polyethersulfone membrane | Aqueous and pharmaceutical streams, low protein binding |
| PTFE membrane | 0.2–1.0 µm | Hydrophobic PTFE | Solvents, gases and vent filtration |
| PVDF membrane | 0.1–0.65 µm | Hydrophilic or hydrophobic PVDF | Aggressive and protein-bearing streams |
PP spun
- Typical rating
- 1–100 µm
- Construction
- Depth, thermally bonded polypropylene
- Chosen for
- General RO pre-filtration, the default
Melt blown
- Typical rating
- 1–100 µm
- Construction
- Depth, graded density
- Chosen for
- Higher dirt-holding than a single-density cartridge
Pleated
- Typical rating
- 0.2–50 µm
- Construction
- Surface, pleated media
- Chosen for
- Longer life at the same rating, often cleanable
Activated carbon
- Typical rating
- Nominal 5–20 µm
- Construction
- Block or granular carbon
- Chosen for
- Chlorine and organics removal ahead of polyamide membranes
PES membrane
- Typical rating
- 0.1–0.65 µm
- Construction
- Polyethersulfone membrane
- Chosen for
- Aqueous and pharmaceutical streams, low protein binding
PTFE membrane
- Typical rating
- 0.2–1.0 µm
- Construction
- Hydrophobic PTFE
- Chosen for
- Solvents, gases and vent filtration
PVDF membrane
- Typical rating
- 0.1–0.65 µm
- Construction
- Hydrophilic or hydrophobic PVDF
- Chosen for
- Aggressive and protein-bearing streams
Typical ratings across the cartridge classes. Chemical compatibility and rating are confirmed against the datasheet of the cartridge quoted.
Selection guidance
Stage the micron ratings instead of jumping straight to fine
The most common cartridge complaint is filters blocking within days, and the usual cause is a single fine rating carrying the whole solids load. A 1 µm cartridge on turbid borewell feed will do the job of a settling tank, a media filter and a pre-filter all at once, and it will do it for about a week.
Stage it: 25 µm, then 5 µm, then 1 µm if the duty needs it. Each stage removes the load the next one would otherwise carry, and total cartridge cost across the year usually falls even though there are more cartridges in the train. If the first stage is still blocking quickly, the problem is upstream of cartridge filtration entirely — that is a media filtration or iron removal question.
Application mapping
Where Cartridge Filters Are Used
RO pre-filtration
- Typical requirement
- Particulate removed before the elements
- Indicated configuration
- PP spun or melt blown at 5 µm, staged where the feed is dirty
Chlorine removal ahead of membranes
- Typical requirement
- Free chlorine eliminated at the membrane
- Indicated configuration
- Activated carbon block with a downstream free-chlorine check
Pharmaceutical final filtration
- Typical requirement
- Sterilising grade with integrity testing
- Indicated configuration
- 0.22 µm PES membrane cartridge in a sanitary housing
Solvent and vent filtration
- Typical requirement
- Chemical compatibility with the stream
- Indicated configuration
- PTFE membrane cartridge selected on compatibility
Replacement and consumables
Replacement Intervals and the Signs It Is Due
Intervals are indicative planning figures. The signal in the last column is what should actually trigger the change.
| Cartridge type | Typical interval | Signs it is due |
|---|---|---|
| PP spun and melt blown | 4–12 weeks | Differential pressure across the housing rises by roughly 1 bar |
| Pleated | Longer than spun at the same rating | Differential pressure rise, or the end of the cleanable life |
| Activated carbon | 3–6 months | Free chlorine detected downstream — that test, not the calendar |
| Membrane cartridges (PES, PTFE, PVDF) | Per batch or per validated cycle | Failed integrity test, or end of the validated period |
PP spun and melt blown
- Typical interval
- 4–12 weeks
- Signs it is due
- Differential pressure across the housing rises by roughly 1 bar
Pleated
- Typical interval
- Longer than spun at the same rating
- Signs it is due
- Differential pressure rise, or the end of the cleanable life
Activated carbon
- Typical interval
- 3–6 months
- Signs it is due
- Free chlorine detected downstream — that test, not the calendar
Membrane cartridges (PES, PTFE, PVDF)
- Typical interval
- Per batch or per validated cycle
- Signs it is due
- Failed integrity test, or end of the validated period
Indicative planning intervals. Actual life varies with feed turbidity, iron load and flow, and follows the datasheet of the cartridge quoted.
Put this on a standing order
Once a plant has a year of running behind it, consumption for this item is predictable. Sending the plant list and last year's usage gets it scheduled against your maintenance calendar instead of ordered in an emergency at the point the plant is already out of specification.
Commercial terms
How This Category Is Quoted
Water treatment does not have a list price, and any supplier quoting one before seeing a feed analysis is quoting a different plant from the one you need.
Pricing basis
On request, and capacity-dependent. Plant pricing moves with capacity, feed water analysis and the recovery target; membranes, cartridges and resins are quoted per element, per lot or per litre of media.
Order quantity
From a single replacement element or a case of cartridges through to full plant scope. Consumable lines are quoted per box or per lot, and the lot size is stated on the quotation.
Lead time
Confirmed per line item at quotation stage. Stocked consumable lines and made-to-order plant differ substantially, so a single blanket lead time for the category would be misleading — the quotation carries the figure for each line.
Invoicing
GST invoice against company or institutional purchase order. Proforma issued where advance payment or internal approval requires it.
Delivery coverage
Despatch from Delhi NCR across India, including plant, project and institutional sites. Delivery city and site access are asked for at enquiry because both affect despatch mode.
Documentation
Technical datasheet for the item quoted, and a test certificate where the principal supplies one with that product. Tender and institutional documentation formats are prepared on request — send the format with the enquiry so the quotation is issued in a form you can submit without rework.
Request for quotation
Request a Quote — Cartridge Filters
Fields marked with an asterisk are required. The technical fields are what usually decide whether you get a quotation on the first pass or three emails of clarification.
Frequently asked
Cartridge Filters — Common Questions
How do I choose a micron rating for a cartridge filter?
From what you are protecting, then from the solids load. RO elements are commonly protected at 5 µm; a fine polishing duty may call for 1 µm; a sterilising duty calls for 0.22 µm.
If the chosen rating blocks within days, the answer is usually to stage the ratings rather than to fit a coarser cartridge, and to look at whether media filtration upstream is missing.
What is the difference between nominal and absolute micron ratings?
A nominal rating means most particles at that size are retained, without a defined efficiency. An absolute rating means retention at a stated efficiency, typically 99.9 percent, at the rated size.
For membrane protection a nominal rating is generally adequate. For sterilising or validated duty the rating must be absolute and supported by the manufacturer's data.
Do cartridge filters remove dissolved salts?
No. Cartridge filtration is a particulate barrier. Dissolved salts pass through completely regardless of the micron rating.
Activated carbon cartridges are the partial exception in that they adsorb chlorine and some organics, but they do not reduce TDS either.
Can cartridge filters be cleaned and reused?
Pleated cartridges are often cleanable, which changes the running-cost comparison against a disposable spun cartridge. Spun and melt blown depth cartridges are generally not.
Where a cartridge is part of a validated process, cleaning and reuse is governed by the validation rather than by what the media will tolerate.
Related Products and Categories
Specified alongside cartridge filters, and the category this page sits in.
Cartridge filter housingsRO membranes these cartridges protectSyringe filters for laboratory sample prepBack to Water Purification Systems
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