What non-particulate contamination can pharmaceutical plant chemical filters handle?

Environmental control in pharmaceutical workshops usually prioritizes particles and microorganisms. HEPA or ULPA is responsible for particles, disinfection and differential pressure control are responsible for biological contamination. But there is another type of pollution that is easily overlooked: gaseous pollution.

Gaseous pollution is not particulate, HEPA cannot stop it, and disinfection procedures cannot handle it. It may come from external fresh air, materials used inside the workshop, equipment releases, or cleaning and disinfection operations. Chemical filters can target some of these, but exactly what they can handle depends on the type of filter media and the target ingredients. Please refer to the specific classification Discussion of what chemical filters are and what problems they are mainly used to solve .

Identify uses by region

Different areas of the pharmaceutical workshop have different concerns about gaseous pollution.

production area. Organic solvents, cleaning agents, acid and alkali solutions may be used. These materials may release volatile organic compounds or acidic/alkaline gases during use. Gaseous contamination may affect product quality if the product is exposed.

Packaging area. Pharmaceutical packaging areas are often sensitive to odors. The entry of external odors may affect the sensory evaluation of the product and may also be focused on in audits. For specific protection methods, please refer to Discussion on how to prevent external odors from entering the pharmaceutical packaging area .

Auxiliary areas and corridors. Gaseous contamination in these areas may enter the clean area through return air or door areas. It is necessary to evaluate whether a filter segment needs to be set.

It is necessary to specify whether to protect the product, deodorize the environment or reduce specified gases. Acceptance indicators cannot be mixed. Different detection methods and media selections correspond to different targets.

Identify materials and sources

To determine what gases to process, you need to start with materials and processes.

Cleaners and disinfectants. Cleaning agents commonly used in pharmaceutical workshops may contain alkaline ingredients, ammonia or amines. Disinfectants may release peroxides, alcohols, or other volatiles. Different materials have different release components and may require different filter media. For specific differences, please refer to Discussion on how to choose chemical filters for amine gas contamination .

Process solvents. Some pharmaceutical processes use organic solvents such as ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone or other organic solvents. These solvents evaporate and form VOC pollution. For specific selection methods, please refer to Discussion on how to choose an air chemical filter for toluene pollution .

Device release. The seals, lubricants, and plastic structural parts inside the equipment may release trace amounts of organic matter at operating temperatures. Such sources are easily overlooked but can accumulate in confined spaces.

external input. If there are industrial emissions, traffic or sewage treatment facilities near the fresh air outlet, external gaseous pollution may enter with the fresh air. For specific evaluation methods, please refer to The factory is close to the source of pollution, and the discussion on how to match the relocation of the air inlet with chemical filtration is discussed.

The air composition needs to be confirmed based on the usage status, and the safety data sheet cannot replace on-site testing. Not all the ingredients contained in the material may volatilize into the air. The actual release amount is also related to the use method, temperature, and degree of openness. For specific detection methods, please refer to whether to do air sampling before choosing a chemical filter . Discuss

Check cleanliness compatibility and maintenance

The requirements for filters in pharmaceutical workshops are not just processing capabilities.

The medium outgasses and loses powder. Some chemical filter materials may release trace amounts of organic matter or generate dust during operation. If the filter section is located upstream of the clean area, this part of the emissions and dust will directly affect the air quality. When selecting, confirm whether the medium meets the clean compatibility requirements. For specific verification methods, please refer to Discussion on how to verify the low outgassing requirements of ULPA .

Install seal. The frame and sealing method of the chemical filter section must be reliable. Bypass air leakage will allow untreated air to bypass the filter material and affect the outlet concentration. For specific inspection methods, please refer to Discussion on how to check frame bypass after chemical filter installation .

Microbial control cannot be inferred from the chemical filter name alone. Chemical filters deal with gaseous contamination and are not a substitute for disinfection, sterilization or biosecurity measures. If the project has microbial control requirements, additional confirmation is required. For specific differences, please refer to Discussion of the difference between chemical filters and HEPA filters .

Replacement method. The chemical filter section has a different replacement cycle than the particle filter. Replacement operations may involve downtime, isolation and containment. Maintenance access and operating spaces should be confirmed during the design stage. For specific life assessment, please refer to Discussion of how long chemical filters last .

Project judgment example

A peculiar smell was reported in the packaging area of ​​a pharmaceutical workshop, but particle and microbial tests were normal.

The investigation found that the odor came from the cleaning agents used in adjacent areas and entered the packaging area through shared return air. Particle filtration systems do not have the ability to handle this type of gaseous pollution.

Adjustment plan: Add a chemical filtration section for alkaline gases on the return air path of the packaging area, and strengthen local exhaust in adjacent areas. The target gas composition, concentration and air volume were checked before configuring the filter section. After the adjustment, the odor in the packaging area was significantly improved, and the particle and microbial indicators were not affected.

Another project adds a chemical filtration section to the fresh air section to treat externally input acid gases. After operation, the outlet concentration reaches the target and the clean area environment is improved.

These two cases illustrate that non-particulate contamination in pharmaceutical workshops requires the selection of chemical filtration solutions for specific ingredients. involving When selecting a chemical filter product series , it is recommended to provide the target gas, concentration range and cleanliness requirements to the supplier for verification.

Key points for selection and acceptance inspection

About Aili Industrial’s pharmaceutical workshop filtration equipment

Aili Industrial has independent manufacturing capabilities in filters, motors, fans, control systems and sheet metal processing, and can provide chemical filter product series and supporting air supply equipment. For pharmaceutical workshop projects, we can assist in checking the chemical filtration section configuration based on target gases, regional requirements, cleanliness standards and system conditions.

Related products:Chemical filter product series、MAU box chemical filter、FFU comes with chemical filter . Providing regional usage, target gases and cleanliness requirements when enquiring, will help identify a suitable solution. The specific selection is subject to the technical documents and test results confirmed by the project.