Lab scale nanofiltration equipment

The METcell Range

OVERVIEW METCELL SPECIFICATIONS

The METcell range of equipment was designed by us

to be an easy entry point for scoping separations
process development at lab scale, using flat sheet
membranes. The range includes the METcell System,
for dead-end filtration, and the METcell CrossFlow
System, for crossflow filtration.

NOTE: The METcell System is sold without the magnetic plate and volumetric
cylinder

The METcell is a stainless steel, high-pressure stirred

cell and is suitable for reverse osmosis (RO) and
nanofiltration (NF) separations using aqueous and
non-aqueous solvents. The MET Gas unit is supplied
with the METcell to allow simple connection to a gas
cylinder. All components of the assembled system are
pressure rated to 69 bar (1000 psi).

NOTE: The METcell System is pressurized with high

pressure gas (usually N2). Please ensure that you have
an adequate high pressure gas cylinder (200 bar)
available and appropriate tubing to connect the
cylinder to the METcell System.

Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH | METcell | April 2017 1/5

 Technical Specification MET Gas Unit

Operating
Parameters Gas Unit frame: Pressure relief spring kit

Membrane Size: 90
90mm
mmdiameter
diameter(area
(area==63.6
63.6cm²)
cm²) Isolation valve: Vent valve

Active Membrane 81
81mm
mmdiameter
diameter(area
(area==51
51cm²)
cm²) Pressure regulator: 0-69 barg
Size:
Inlet: 1/8 ” O.D. tube
Processable 250
250mL
mL
Volume: Discharge: 1/4 ” O.D. hose (supplied)

Hold-up Volume: ~5
~5mL
mL Pressure relief valve: Set to relieve at 65 barg

Maximum Pressure: Pressure gauges for gas supply pressure and METcell pressure
69
69barg
bar
barg
(1000
(1000
(1000
psig)
psig)
psig)
Pressure: Pipework Kit (comprising tubing, elbow, tees and union)

Maximum The
Thelower
lowerofof50ºC
50ºCor
orthe
thetemperature
temperatureat at
Temperature: which
whichthe
thevapour
vapourpressure
pressureofofthe
the solvent
solvent
exceeds exceeds
1.5 bar1.5
absolute.
bar absolute. Features
The key design features are described below:
Material The material is tolerant to all aqueous
Compatibility: Theorganic
and materialsolvents
is tolerant to all aqueous
compatible with and
organic
316 solvents
stainless steelcompatible withor
(SS) and Viton 316 1. The METcell System is designed to comply with
stainless steel (SS) and Viton or Perlast.
Perlast. the European Pressure Directive requirements,
and the materials of construction are in
compliance with FDA current good manufacturing
Connections practice (cGMP).
2. Easy-to-use design, with easily removable top to
Permeate Outlet: 1/8 ” diameter 316 SS Tubing charge feed solution, and easily removable base
for membrane replacement.
Pressure Inlet: 1/4 ” NPT (female) 3. Safe operation up to 69 bar with high pressure
mechanical couplings (ASME BPE 1997 compliant)
Feed Inlet: 1/4 ” NPT (female)
and seals, enabling RO and NF separations to be
carried out.
4. Provision of fittings for connection to a pressure
Wetted Materials
source (gas cylinder-recommended).
5. Pre-assembled MET Gas unit including an
Cell body: 316 Stainless Steel isolation valve, vent valve, pressure regulator,
pressure relief valve, and pressure gauges to allow
O-rings: FEP Coated Viton and Perlast
safe and simple operation of a high pressure
system.
Stirrer bar: PTFE coated magnet with 316
SS support arms 6. Connection port for an HPLC pump, allowing
charging of solutions into the METcell without
opening the cell, particularly useful when solutes
Dimensions are oxygen/moisture sensitive or when
continuous operation is required, e.g. permeate
recycle.
Cell Diameter: 64 mm, flaring to 120 mm
7. A 35mm-wide removable PTFE coated stirrer bar
Cell Height: 171 mm (including additional is used to promote excellent mixing down to low
height of reinforced cell top) liquid volume holdups.
8. All components can be sterilized or autoclaved as
part of a cleaning procedure.

Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH | METcell | April 2017 2/5

 9. The METcell can house membrane disks with METCELL CROSSFLOW SPECIFICATION
diameter between 90 and 93 mm. A4 sheets from
More choice - in addition to the dead-end filtration
the PuraMem® and DuraMem® range of solvent
capability provided by the METcell System, the
nanofiltration membranes are available with
CrossFlow System lets you carry out, for example,
various molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) grades
crossflow filtrations for concentrating solutions up to
(please ask for specifications).
0.8 L or carrying out diafiltrations (adding fresh
10. Processing times will vary depending on
solvent with an HPLC pump).
membrane flux. As an indication, with a
PuraMem® membrane in methanol, giving a flux
Greater flexibility – the membrane area can be easily
of 100 L.m-2.h-1, a METcell would process 100
increased or decreased as required for your tests by
ml in approximately 12 minutes.
changing the number of crossflow filtration cells
connected in series. For instance, six 4” crossflow
A comprehensive instruction manual in paper and
cells (with total area 306 cm2) or six 2.5” crossflow
electronic format is supplied with each METcell
cells (with total area 84 cm2) can be connected in
System.
series with a system pressure drop of < 1 barg (based
on a solution of 1 cP viscosity).

More tests per experiment – take advantage of having

multiple crossflow cells available, so you can test
either several discs of one membrane type or several
types of membrane simultaneously with the same
solution in just one experiment.

More scalable data – obtain results that provide a

better prediction for scaling-up, particularly with
concentrated or viscous solutions and solutions that
NOTE: The METcell CrossFlow System is sold without the magnetic plate generate significant concentration polarisation layers
– results from crossflow filtration experiments will
provide flux and rejection data more consistent with
The METcell CrossFlow System uses the core process-scale membrane elements.
components of the METcell System to upgrade the
standard dead-end METcell filtration unit into a Same high degree of safety - the METcell CrossFlow
CrossFlow system. This system can be equipped with System, like the METcell System, is designed following
up to 6 crossflow cells in series with less than 1 bar EN13445 to fully comply with the requirements of the
pressure drop (1 cP solution viscosity). European Pressure Equipment Directive (97/23/EC) –
use of the crossflow kit will maintain the pressure
NOTE: rating and integrity of your METcell.
(i) - The METcell CrossFlow System is pressurized with
high pressure gas (usually N2). Please ensure that you Same ease of use – like the METcell, the MET crossflow
have an adequate high pressure gas cylinder (200 bar) cells provide safe and easy operation up to 69 bar with
available and appropriate tubing to connect the high pressure mechanical couplings (ASME BPE 1997
cylinder to the METcell CrossFlow System. compliant) and seals, as well as the flexibility of using
(ii) -The METcell CrossFlow System may be operated swage process connections throughout.
in continuous mode using a recirculation HPLC pump
NOT included in this quote – please contact us if this Easy installation – Evonik MET will provide you with a
operating mode is required. complete set of hoses, fittings, clamps, etc. to get you
up and running with crossflow. No annoying delays
whilst specifying and waiting for ancillary parts to be
delivered – you can be running in crossflow on the
same day you receive our kit!

Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH | METcell | April 2017 3/5

 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

The METcell CrossFlow System contains the following:

System

 High-pressure crossflow filtration cells (316 Maximum/Minimum 800/150 mL

stainless steel) Working Volume:
 Gear pump (organic solvent compatible)
 METcell tank base (316 stainless steel) Maximum/Minimum 69/5 barg (1000/70 psig)
Working Pressure:
 All necessary flexible hoses and fittings
Maximum The lower of 50 ºC or the temperature at
A photograph and schematic of a METcell with the Operating which the vapour pressure of the solvent
Temperature: exceeds 1.5 barg absolute.
CrossFlow System installed are shown overleaf in
Figures 1 and 2 respectively. The METcell tank base is Hold-Up Volume: 60 mL for two 4” cells, 40 mL for three
used to replace the standard METcell base and 2.5” cells
converts the METcell into a reservoir for the filtration
solution. Like in the METcell System, the filtration Pump Delivery Rate: 1.2 L/min

pressure is provided by gas pressure from a cylinder

Pump Motor: 230V, 0.25 kW – ATEX, NEMA and other
and is accurately controlled with the MET Gas Unit, as motor types available on request
provided with the METcell System.
Maximum Filtration Six 4” cells or six 2.5” cells (for <1 barg
Cells in Series: pressure drop with a 1 cP solution)
The METcell CrossFlow System is particularly suited
for reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF)
Approximate For the two 4” or three 2.5” crossflow cells
separations, using aqueous or non-aqueous solvents. System Dimensions: systems, the dimensions are 70 (w) x 70
The MET crossflow cells feature a clamped design to (d) x 40 (h) cm
allow quick and easy membrane changeover. All
components of the assembled CrossFlow System are
pressure rated to a minimum operating pressure of 69 Materials of
barg (1000 psig). The standard METcell CrossFlow Construction

System is supplied with either:

METcell and METcell 316 Stainless Steel
tank base:
 3 x 4” crossflow cells (153 cm2 total membrane
area), or O-rings: FEP coated Viton and Viton or Perlast
 3 x 2.5” crossflow cells (42 cm2 total membrane
MET crossflow cells: 316 Stainless Steel
area).
MET crossflow cell
FEP coated Viton and Viton or Perlast
O-rings:

Fittings: 316 Stainless Steel

Flexible Hoses: 316 Stainless Steel and PTFE

Pump wetted parts: 316 Stainless Steel, PTFE and Ryton (PPS)

Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH | METcell | April 2017 4/5

 1- Gas inlet connected to METcell Top*
1
2 - Gas inlet connected to METcell Top*
3 - Gas Pressure Unit*
4 - METcell Tank Base
5 - Magnetic Stirrer and Hotplate
(Provided by user)

3
2 6 - Permeate Collection (Provided by user)
7 - 2.5’’ Filtration Cells
8 - Gear Pump
4

6
7 6 7

Figure 1 - Assembled METcell CrossFlow System (* - Parts from METcell System)

Disclaimer
This information and all technical and other advice are based on
Evonik’s present knowledge and experience. However, Evonik
assumes no liability for such information or advice, including the
extent to which such information or advice may relate to third party
intellectual property rights. Evonik reserves the right to make any
changes to information or advice at any time, without prior or
subsequent notice. Evonik disclaims all representations and
warranties, whether express or implied, and shall have no liability
for, merchantability of the product or its fitness for a particular
purpose (even if Evonik is aware of such purpose), or otherwise.
Evonik shall not be responsible for consequential, indirect or
incidental damages (including loss of profits) of any kind. It is the
customer’s sole responsibility to arrange for inspection and testing
of all products by qualified experts. Reference to trade names used
by other companies is neither a recommendation, nor an
endorsement of the corresponding product, and does not imply that
similar products could not be used.

Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH

High Performance Polymers
Figure 2- Schematic for METcell CrossFlow System Paul-Baumann-Straße 1
45772 Marl
Germany

Phone +49 02365 49-4800

[email protected]
www.puramem.com

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