Filtration directly into seperatory funnel?

[Generalen1]

Hello Meso!

I've been mixing up some l-carnitine at home.
So far i've been using syringe filters and just transferring it directly into pre-sterilized vials.

Been looking into getting an easier setup for larger quantities at once, and while doing so I've been thinking about just filtrating directly into a seperatory flask.
In my head this would make transferring it to vials after filtration easier, and "safer" than doing glass media bottletop filtration and then transferring it to a seperatory flask for distribution into vials.

Would something like this work :

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000106092098.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.139c38da1jUJgn&mp=1&pdp_npi=5%40dis%21NOK%21NOK%20206.21%21NOK%20160.83%21%21%21%21%21%402103919917404155838687733e7dec%2110000000274369748%21ct%21NO%216234537017%21%211%210

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32919375256.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.139c38da1jUJgn&mp=1&pdp_npi=5%40dis%21NOK%21NOK%20307.10%21NOK%20307.10%21%21%21%21%21%402103919917404155838687733e7dec%2165938719770%21ct%21NO%216234537017%21%211%210

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005007161718715.html?spm=a2g0o.cart.0.0.139c38da1jUJgn&mp=1&pdp_npi=5%40dis%21NOK%21NOK%20389.34%21NOK%20272.53%21%21%21%21%21%402103919917404155838687733e7dec%2112000039659496222%21ct%21NO%216234537017%21%211%210

And a vacuum pump.

Not sure if im overlooking something, or Im just plain stupid or both.
But this to me seem easier than transferring from a media bottle into multiple vials after filtration?

Thanks for any input.

 

[mikeh1998]

If you're just doing this at home you are likely better off with syringe filters, 60 mL syringes and a stronger caulk gun (night and day difference with the proper caulk gun)... I can filter 30 mL of testosterone oil which is way more viscous in like a minute with minimal effort.

I don't see this being worth it from a money or time perspective unless you're regularly going to be filtering >1 litre.

Post in thread 'ICU medical vial spike? B9909'

Feb 23, 2025

I filtered for the first time by using these to draw up the oil from UGL vials using a comically big 60 mL syringe.

Then used a regular cheap caulk gun to push through a 0.22 um PTFE syringe filter out of a 25G needle.

I think it was a mistake to:

1. Use a 25G needle
2. Use a cheap caulk gun

Even with trying really hard I could barely push out more than 1 mL per minute (no joke). Next time I will for sure use a 21G needle and a high thrust ratio caulking gun (mine was 9:1).

I did not really notice any difference in clarity in the liquid. The new plastic wrapped 30 mL sterile glass...

• mikeh1998

• 

P.S. Since AliExpress listings get deleted all the time sometimes just after a few days I recommend posting a screenshot of the listing instead of the links for posterity...

 

[Generalen1]

Thanks for the input!
Yea I did 500ml by hand the other night, gave up on the 60ml syringe and used both 20ml and 10ml after that. Did not get a chaulk gun, will get one for sure if I do more rounds of syringe filtering and try it with the 60ml syringe

Im looking to be able do 500ml at once, I make for myself and 2 friends atm.

 

[mikeh1998]

Thanks for the input!
Yea I did 500ml by hand the other night, gave up on the 60ml syringe and used both 20ml and 10ml after that. Did not get a chaulk gun, will get one for sure if I do more rounds of syringe filtering and try it with the 60ml syringe

Im looking to be able do 500ml at once, I make for myself and 2 friends atm.

Highly recommend getting a caulk gun like this a try... There's a little switch on it where you can set the "thrust ratio" to "HIGH". Worst case, you can return it on Amazon if you don't like it.



Poke syringe (with filter attached) into the empty vial, use a vent needle, and place caulk gun over the 60 mL syringe... from there, you just need to squeeze the handle once and liquid should come shooting out. Don't apply continuous pressure, just squeeze, wait, squeeze again once the flow gets slower. Near zero physical strain. I recommend getting some sterile 18G needles to fill the vial even faster.

500 mL of a water based solution I would estimate on the high end would take <5 minutes!

 

[Generalen1]

Looks solid, ill give one of those a try.
Already ordered a capping kit and i have an unused pressure cooker. So for uncapped sterile vials i can just filter straight into the vial using a sterile filter. With a good chaulk gun that should be a breeze

Thanks again!

 

[Dxt25]

Highly recommend getting a caulk gun like this a try... There's a little switch on it where you can set the "thrust ratio" to "HIGH". Worst case, you can return it on Amazon if you don't like it.

View attachment 318123

Poke syringe (with filter attached) into the empty vial, use a vent needle, and place caulk gun over the 60 mL syringe... from there, you just need to squeeze the handle once and liquid should come shooting out. Don't apply continuous pressure, just squeeze, wait, squeeze again once the flow gets slower. Near zero physical strain. I recommend getting some sterile 18G needles to fill the vial even faster.

500 mL of a water based solution I would estimate on the high end would take <5 minutes!

Whats the difference in that thrust ratio? Why would we use one or the other? I tried to move it but couldn’t? Am I doing something wrong?

 

[mikeh1998]

Whats the difference in that thrust ratio? Why would we use one or the other? I tried to move it but couldn’t? Am I doing something wrong?

Higher thrust ratio applies more force to get the liquid out faster... Using it for caulking that would be too much probably. But if you are filtering steroids or using something like a tube of green glue you would want the higher thrust ratio since it requires more force.

If you have the same gun, from what I remember this is what I did but check the manual. Press the spring, pull the hook shaped rod all the way. Back From there, you should be able to push the handle/trigger forward and it will move from "L" to "H". Something like that...

 

[Dxt25]

Higher thrust ratio applies more force to get the liquid out faster... Using it for caulking that would be too much probably. But if you are filtering steroids or using something like a tube of green glue you would want the higher thrust ratio since it requires more force.

If you have the same gun, from what I remember this is what I did but check the manual. Press the spring, pull the hook shaped rod all the way. Back From there, you should be able to push the handle/trigger forward and it will move from "L" to "H". Something like that...

View attachment 318147

Ive been using at L as it came like that. Its more than enough for me. Even at L I feel im going to pop the filter LOL