3M™ Zeta Plus™ Encapsulated System with LA Series Media

The 3M™ Zeta Plus™ Encapsulated System with LA Series Media is a single-use depth filtration system designed for the bioprocessing industry where upstream cell culture clarification or downstream impurity removal is required. The 3M Zeta Plus Encapsulated System consists of three product lines: a pilot system that is ideal for larger scale-up studies, and two systems that are designed for production scale biomanufacturing. The pilot and production systems are comprised of a filter holder, top and bottom manifolds, and the required number of capsules.

The 3M Zeta Plus Encapsulated Systems for production scale biomanufacturing feature an ergonomically designed large holder (Models# 16EZB and 16EZC) that is pivoted between horizontal and vertical positions, allowing for convenient loading and unloading, minimal footprint during filtration, minimal fluid spills during unloading, and full utilization of the filter media.

The capsule design features a translucent plastic shell (standard capsules) for easy liquid level detection; a self-guiding locking mechanism for fast and robust capsule-to-capsule connection; and the Zeta Plus depth filter media that provides excellent filtration performance.

EZP Series, with Zeta Plus LA Series Media
3M™ Zeta Plus™ Encapsulated System with LA Series Media are designed to provide low levels of metallic extractables, especially aluminum. This premium grade low aluminum filter media are ideally suited for parenteral, blood fraction and bioprocess solutions. Stringent quality controls are established for each production lot. 3M™ Zeta Plus™ Encapsulated System with LA Series Media exhibits a positive electrokinetic charge that enhances filtration efficiency when compared with other depth filters. When used as a prefilter, the high contaminant holding capacity of Zeta Plus LA series filter media prolongs final filter life.

3M™ Zeta Plus™ Encapsulated System with LA Series Media filters are compliant with the USP <88> Class VI Biological Reactivity Tests. 3M Zeta Plus filter media offers unique advantages in contaminant reduction because of its electrokinetic properties, in addition to the mechanical exclusion of particles by its depth loading feature. Zeta Plus filter media adsorbs contaminants too small for reduction by mechanical straining. Since most particles in suspension have been shown to exhibit a negative charge, virtually all contaminants can be reduced with proper media grade selection.

Ergonomically Designed Filter Holders
The process hardware that goes with the single use Zeta Plus capsules is designed with ease of use in mind. Traditional depth filtration systems utilize lenticular style cartridge filters and a vertical filtration flow path to allow easy access to process liquids and efficient utilization of filter media. However, stacking cartridges from bottom to top can be cumbersome, and dismantling the spent cartridges is often labor intensive. Furthermore, fluid spills during the unloading process could be problematic and, in some instances, might expose the operators to the process fluids.

Recognizing the need for a depth filtration system that is fast, easy and clean, 3M designed filter holders (Model# 16EZB and #16EZC) that can be pivoted between the horizontal position for loading and unloading the capsules and manifolds, and the vertical position for filtration. Allowing loading and unloading at waist height eliminates the need for operators to lift capsules above their heads and reduces the risk of fluid spills when handling spent capsules. The use of the vertical flow path allows for full media utilization and a small system footprint during filtration.

Small Holder (Model# 16EZA) : The small holder is available for laboratory and pilot scale-up studies, in addition to low volume production filtration. The standard holder can accommodate from one to four 0.23 m² capsules, one 1.6 m² (double layer) or one 2.5 m² (single layer) capsule. Either single stage or two-stage depth filtration can be performed within the same holder. The standard small holder has a built-in torque limiter that will signal the operator when the holder assembly is properly sealed. All 16EZA holders have been designed to be fully autoclavable for applications where that may be required.

Large Holder (Model# 16EZB) : The large holder can accommodate up to 17.5 m² of single layer 3M Zeta Plus filter media or 11.2 m² of double layer Zeta Plus filter media. This holder is ideal for small to large production scale purification processes.