Solvent Filtration and Delivery System

Transfer and filter fresh and waste solvent between a filling station and several instruments without ever coming into direct contact with the solvents

Solvent Filtration and Delivery System

SFD System Overview

One of the most tedious tasks in a Polymer Separation laboratory, where techniques such as Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) / Size Exclusion Chromatography (SEC), Temperature Rising Elution Fractionation (TREF), Crystallization Elution Fractionation (CEF) or similar ones are used, is transferring large volumes of fresh solvent to the instruments in order to maintain a continuous flow through the columns; and to dispose of used solvent to a waste container. The solvent transfer is typically done with 2L or 1-gallon bottles, which are usually heavy, especially when handling chlorinated solvents. In addition to the heavy lifting involved, it is also necessary to take several protective measures to carry out the operation without incurring personal safety risks. Wearing a mask is required to avoid inhalation of vapors.

In a Polyolefin Characterization laboratory, where the typically used solvents have densities around 1.4 Kg/L, as in the case of TCB and o-DCB, solvent manipulation with bottles becomes increasingly inconvenient and dangerous. This task is necessary to be carried out frequently because the separation techniques require continuous solvent refilling and waste disposal.

The new Solvent Filtration and Delivery system addresses all these difficulties and minimizes the risks of handling solvents in the laboratory. Its operation is very easy, thought to make the process faster and simpler.

The Solvent Filtration and Delivery system is a renewed model of the former Solvent Handling Trolley, and it is designed with the purpose of taking safety in the laboratory daily routines a step further.

As featured innovations in this model, the SFD system incorporates filters both for the fresh and for waste solvents, two bigger volume bottles for fresh solvent and waste of 20 liters, and all the connections are plastic-made.

Thanks to the SFD system:

· No risk of breaking bottles by accident
· No contact with solvents
· No vapors
· No need to carry heavy bottles
· No need to wear a mask

This method allows the repeated transfer of fresh solvent and waste between instruments, reservoir, and waste stations in a much more efficient way, without the risks of inhaling vapors, intoxication by contact, lifting heavy bottles, or avoiding an accidental breakage if dropped. There is also no need to wear either a mask or gloves during the process.

How to use the SFD System

SFD System Features

Facilitating Laboratory Operations

· Easy transfer of solvents inside the laboratory while filtering both fresh and waste solvents
· The SFD system filters incorporates two filters:
- One filter to help remove undesired particles from the fresh solvent
- A second filter for the waste solvent helps eliminate polymer residue, optimizing the distillation process
· The use of the SFD system contributes to the improvement of health and safety levels in the laboratory
· Compatible with any organic solvent
· Eliminates the need to carry heavy solvent bottles by hand
· Reduces the risk of breaking bottles by accident
· Avoids contact with solvents
· The solvent is transferred through an airtight system so no solvent vapors are released to the ambient
· Eliminates the need to wear masks when transferring solvent
· Efficient and easy to use
· Includes two units of 20L bottles and a pair of bottle caps with the proper connections for your instrument’s bottles


SFD System FAQs


Handling and transferring solvents are necessary tasks in laboratories but they are also risky in many ways. Some of these risks include potential intoxication by contact or vapor inhalation, or dropping and breaking solvent bottles because of how heavy they are.

Yes, you will need specific caps to ensure the proper connections for transferring the solvents and vapors between the SFD System and the instrument/s.
We supply two complimentary units of these caps together with the Solvent Filtration and Delivery System.

Yes you can, you only need to change your instrument’s bottle caps for SFD-compatible caps (see question above)

Once the bottle in your trolley is full of fresh solvent, there are only 4 steps to prepare your instrument for analysis:
1. Take the SFD near your instrument
2. Connect the fresh solvent lines to the instrument’s bottle and press START to begin the transfer
3. Connect the waste solvent lines to the instrument’s bottle and press START to begin the transfer
4. Disconnect all the lines
If the waste trolley bottle is full, you will need to take the SFD to the solvent station for emptying.

It depends on the bottle size. The pump rate is set to 1L/min approx.

It is not advisable to leave the SFD unattended while it’s transferring solvent but, as a safety measure to avoid overflowing, the SFD will automatically stop transferring solvent after 3 minutes. The user will be able to start the process again if the bottle is not completely full.

The SFD will always add safety benefits and improve the health level in your laboratory even when with one instrument only, because it allows the safe transfer of fresh and waste solvents, avoiding unnecessary risks.

No vapors are released. Whilst the solvent is traveling from the SFD to the instrument, its vapors travel in the opposite direction through separate tubes. These vapors will be trapped inside the solvent bottles, which are interconnected, therefore the pressure inside each bottle will stay the same.

The SFD is compatible with any organic solvent, however, you should use only one type of solvent per SFD unit at any given time to avoid potential contamination of your different solvents.
If using more than one solvent is a common routine in your lab, you should have one Solvent Filtration & Delivery System for each type of solvent.

No installation is necessary by a Polymer Char engineer. The SFD units are delivered as a partially assembled set with clear instructions on how to proceed to complete the assembly and start using it straight away.

All Polymer Char instruments are delivered with SFD compatible caps, so if your instrument is older than that, please contact us to get a quote for the necessary caps.

No frequent maintenance tasks are necessary other than a simple maintenance to the waste solvent pumps, because the constant flow of polymer residue can end up obstructing them. This maintenance is recommended once a year or if you notice a dramatic decrease in the transfer flow rate.

Yes, this is possible. The SFD incorporates an in-line filter, that eliminates undesirable particles. The removed particles are equivalent to using a 0.45 microns membrane filter. The filters are disposable.

Request More Information about the SFD system

Thank you for your interest. If you would like to receive more information or want to request a quotation please complete this form.


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