Filtration is the procedure of physically, biologically, and mechanically separating particulates from liquids or gases. A filter medium is used to separate the fluid that can flow through from the particles of solid. The targeted result might be the particles of solids that are separated from the fluid or the clear fluid itself. The filter media, the fluid containing suspended particles, a mechanical system that retains the filter medium and allows for the application, and a force to move the fluid via the system, which includes a pressure differential, are the fundamental needs of a filtering system. Syringe filters, bottle-top filter systems, membrane filters, and vacuum filtration systems are examples of lab filters.

The laboratory filtration market is being driven by the burgeoning use of this technology in the food and beverage sector, as well as the development of technologically improved products. The main components of a complete system include a range of assemblies and accessories and the filtration medium. As per P&S Intelligence, the rising frequency of chronic illnesses is driving the demand for filtration in the production of pharmaceuticals. As per the U.S. Congressional Budget Office, the pharma sector of the country spent $83 billion on R&D alone in 2019, thus reflecting the vast demand for filtration systems.

Moreover, membrane filters, syringeless filters, filter paper, syringe filters, filtration microplates, capsule filters, and several other types of laboratory filtration media are available. Membrane filters, unlike other filtering media, include microporous plastic sheets with particular pore-size ratings, which aid in the removal of minute contaminants. As a result, the need for filtration media is increasing in laboratories, as the healthcare infrastructure improves and the need for generic and biologic pharmaceuticals rises.

In addition, the requirement for laboratory filtration is growing due to the advent of technologically improved solutions that are more accurate and cost-effective. Membrane filters, for example, aid in the retention of particulate materials on a smooth membrane surface, which is why they are used in a variety of applications, including air pollution and water microbiology studies. For instance, apart from membrane filters, Sartorius AG produces a variety of syringe filters, including Minisart syringe filters, which are meant to remove germs and particulate matter from gases, air, and liquids.

Japan has been one of the key contributors to the laboratory filtration market, owing to its expanding pharmaceutical product output. According to the figures issued by the International Trade Administration, “…the Japanese market for prescription and nonprescription pharmaceuticals in 2020 was $107 billion…” Hence, the need for laboratory filtration in APAC will grow due to the strengthening healthcare infrastructure, rising chronic illness incidence, and increasing pharmaceutical product output.

Moreover, there are many filtration equipment providers, such as Cantel Medical Corporation, General Electric Company, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Sartorius AG, Danaher Corporation, 3M Company, and MACHEREY-NAGEL GmbH & Co., that are expanding their presence in APAC. For instance, recently, KG Millistak+ HC Pro, a portfolio of high-capacity, synthetic depth filters for non-treated Chinese hamster ovary harvest clarity and downstream filtration applications, was released by Merck KGaA. In comparison to traditional diatomaceous earth and cellulose-based filtration methods, the Millistak+ HC Pro filter media delivers a cleaner and more-uniform depth filtration procedure.

Hence, the growing pharmaceutical sector, especially in APAC, will drive the demand for the various media, accessories, and assemblies used during filtration in a laboratory.