Chemical Compatibility for Sterile Compounding
When it comes to sterile filtering of aqueous, oil, or medication solutions, the foremost priority is choosing a filter that is chemically compatible with the solution being filtered. At International Filter Products Inc., we emphasize that even the most advanced techniques and state-of-the-art facilities can fall short if the filter materials are not chemically compatible with the solution or medication. Incompatibility often leads to compromised membranes or seals, resulting in a non-sterile product and lower bubble points in post-use integrity testing.
Chemical compatibility charts are crucial in determining the suitability of different filter materials for specific chemical solutions. These charts guide the selection of the most appropriate filter material, evaluating its resistance to chemical attack, swelling, and degradation. By consulting a chemical compatibility chart, you can confirm that your chosen filter materials will not only be compatible with the chemicals in your process but also maintain the integrity and effectiveness of your filtration system.
While the table provided below is not exhaustive for all solutions used in sterile compounding pharmacies, it serves as an invaluable guide. We continuously update this list to ensure its relevance and utility. Should you require information about a compound or solution not listed, our team is equipped to assist. Utilizing our extensive network, chemical compatibility charts for plastics used in filters, and a range of filters with varying materials, we are committed to finding the correct solution for your needs.
In Appendix A of our chemical compatibility chart, we detail the most commonly used filter materials in sterile compounding filtration applications. These include PES (polyether sulfone), PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), PP (polypropylene), PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride), and NYL (nylon), ensuring a broad spectrum of options to meet the diverse needs of our clients in sterile compounding.
Chemical |
PES |
PTFE |
PP |
PVDF |
Nylon |
Acetic Acid (Glacial) Acid, Organic |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Acetone Ketone |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Acetonitrile (ACN) Nitrile |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Limited |
Excellent |
Aminolite |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Ammonium Hydroxide Caustic |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Ammonium Sulfate (Saturated) Salt, Aqueous Solution |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Amyl Acetate Ester |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Amyl Alcohol |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Ascorbic Acid |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Benzene HC, Aromatic |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Benzyl Alcohol HC Aromatic/Alcohol |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Benzal Chloride |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent @ 10% Solution |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Benzal Conium Chloride |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent @ 10% Solution |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Benzyl Alcohol |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Benzyl Benzoate |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Boric Acid (Aqueous Solution) |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Butyl Acetate Ester |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Butyl Alcohol |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Carbon Tetrachloride HC, Halogenated |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Excellent @ 70˚F |
Cellosolve (Ethyl) Glycol Ether |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
CHAPS (Aqueous Solution) Surfactant / Detergent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Chlorobutanol up to 2% |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Chloroform HC, Halogenated |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Corn Oil |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Cottonseed Oil |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Cyclohexanone Ketone |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Cyclosprorine |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Cyclosprorine Ophthalmic Sof’n |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Dextrose |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Dimethylacetamide Low Concentration |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Diethyl Pyrocarbonate, 0.2% Carboxylic Anhydride |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO), Sulfoxide |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Dimethylformamide Amide |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Dioxane Ether |
Testing Required |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Ethanol Alcohol / Ethyl Alcohol |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Ethers Ether |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Ethyl Acetate Ester |
Not Recommended |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Ethyl Alcohol |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Ethylene Glycol |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Formaldehyde |
Excellent @ 40% Solution |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent @ 37% Solution |
Formaldehyde Aldehyde |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Formic Acid, 50% Acid, Organic |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Freon® (TF Or PCA) HC, Halogenated |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Gasoline HC |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Giycerin |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Glycerol |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Glycol |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Glycerine (Glycerol) Glycol |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Grape Seed |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Guaifenesin |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Helium Gas |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Hexane HC, Aliphatic |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
HCI |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Hydrochloric Acid, 1 N (HCL) Acid, Inorganic |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Hydrochloric Acid, 6 N (HCL) Acid, Inorganic |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Hydrochloric Acid, Conc. (HCL) Acid, Inorganic |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Not Recommended |
Not Recommended |
Hydrofluoric Acid, Inorganic |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Not Recommended |
Not Recommended |
Hydrogen Gas |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Hydrogen Peroxide, 3% Peroxide |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Hydrogen Peroxide, 30% Peroxide |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Hydrogen Peroxide, 90% Peroxide |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
HYPO (Aqueous Solution) Salt, Aqueous Solution |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Isobutyl Alcohol |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Isopropyl Acetate Ester |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Isopropyl Alcohol |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Ketoprofen |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Kerosene HC |
Excellent |
Limited |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Lactanase |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Lactic Acid, 50% Acid, Organic/Alcohol |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Lodine |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Linseed Oil |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) Ketone |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Methyl Acetate Ester |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Methyl Alcohol |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Methylene Chloride HC, Halogenated |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Not Recommended |
Testing Required |
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Mineral Spirits HC |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
NaOH |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Nitric Acid, 6 N Acid, Inorganic |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Nitric Acid (Concentrated) Acid, Inorganic |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Not Recommended |
Not Recommended |
Not Recommended |
Nitrobenzene HC, Aromatic |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Nitrogen Gas |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Ozone Gas |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Paraldehyde Aldehyde |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Peanut Oil |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Pentane HC, Aliphatic |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Petroleum Ether |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Phenol |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Phenol (Aqueous Solution) Phenol |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Potassium Hydroxide, 3 N Caustic |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Progesterone |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Propylparaben up to 2% |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Pyridine Amine |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Testing Required |
Sarracenea |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Sesame Oil |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent up to 70˚F |
Excellent |
Excellent up to 70˚F |
Silicone Oils |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Sodium Carbonate (Aqueous Solution) Salt, Aqueous Solution |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Water (Brine) Salt, Aqueous Solution |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Sodium Chloride (Aqueous Solution) Salt, Aqueous Solution |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Sodium Hydroxide, 3 N Caustic |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Sodium Hydroxide (Concentrate) Caustic |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Sulfuric Acid (Concentrated) Acid, Inorganic |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Testing Required |
Not Recommended |
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Ether |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Testosterone |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Toluene HC, Aromatic |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
TCA (Aqueous Solution) Acid, Organic |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Testing Required |
Trichloroethylene HC, Halogenated |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Testing Required |
Testing Required |
Urea, 8 M Salt, Aqueous Solution |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Xylene HC, Aromatic |
Testing Required |
Excellent |
Not Recommended |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Please note that these compatibility recommendations may vary depending on the specific formulation or concentration of the chemical being used. It's always important to consult the manufacturer's recommendations.
Appendix A
PES (Hydrophilic) Membrane is a versatile filter media that is widely used in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries due to its excellent flow rates and retention capabilities. This membrane is hydrophilic, meaning it has a strong affinity for water and other polar solvents. This makes PES ideal for applications where the filtration of aqueous solutions is required, such as sterile filtration of culture media, buffers, and vaccines.
PTFE (Hydrophobic) Membrane is a highly resistant filter media that repels water and other polar solvents. This membrane is ideal for applications where oils, ketones & organic solvents, or gases are required, such as viscous oil base solutions, filtration of aggressive solvents, compressed air, or venting of tanks.
PES and PTFE membranes are available in a 0.2um sterilizing grade, commonly used in sterile compounding applications. These filters are designed to quantitatively retain bacteria, such as Brevundimonas diminuta (ATCC #19146), at a minimum challenge level of 107 CFU per cm2 of filtration area, consistent with ASTM F838-05. This ensures that the filtered product is free from bacterial contamination and meets the highest safety and quality standards.
Polypropylene (PP) is a widely used filter material due to its low cost, high chemical resistance, and excellent mechanical properties. It is compatible with a wide range of acids, bases, and solvents, including hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, acetone, and methanol. However, it is not recommended for use with strong oxidizing agents, such as nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, as they can cause the degradation of the polymer.
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a high-performance filter material that offers excellent chemical resistance and thermal stability. It is compatible with a wide range of acids, bases, and solvents, including hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sodium hydroxide, acetone, and ethanol. It is also resistant to most organic solvents, including chlorinated solvents and aromatic hydrocarbons. However, PVDF is not recommended for use with strong oxidizing agents, such as nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide.
Nylon is a versatile filter material widely used to filtrate aqueous and organic solvents. Nylon can endure higher temperatures and is compatible with a wide range of chemicals, including most acids, bases, and solvents. However, it is not recommended for use with strong oxidizing agents, such as nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, as they can cause the degradation of the polymer.
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