--- title: "PES vs Nylon vs PTFE: Picking the Right Syringe Filter Membrane" description: A practical guide to choosing between PES, nylon and PTFE syringe filter membranes. Match the membrane to your sample in two minutes. image: https://blog.chromatographydirect.com/hubfs/Syringe%20Filters/500x300-Syringe-Filters.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://blog.chromatographydirect.com/pes-vs-nylon-vs-ptfe-picking-the-right-syringe-filter-membrane#main-content) [![cd-logo-header](https://blog.chromatographydirect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos/cd-logo-header.png?width=180&height=68&name=cd-logo-header.png)](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/) - [Products](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/vials-and-caps) Show submenu for Products - [Vials & Caps](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/vials-and-caps) - [Sample Preparation](https://info.chromatographydirect.com/uct-sample-preparation-products-chromatography-direct) - [Filtration Products](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/filtration-products) - [LC Columns & Accessories](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/lc-columns-and-accessories) - [Instrument Spares](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/instrument-spares) - [Plates & Mats](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/plates-and-mats) - [Flash Chromatography](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/flash-chromatography) - [Solvent Safety](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/solvent-safety) - [GC Columns & Accessories](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/gc-columns-and-accessories) - [Dissolution](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/dissolution) - [Clinical Kits, Standards and Controls](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/clinical-kits-standards-and-controls) - [New Products](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/new-products) - [Knowledge Base](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/knowledge-base) - [About Us](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/about-us) - [Offers](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/offers) - [Blog](https://blog.chromatographydirect.com) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Products](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/vials-and-caps) Show submenu for Products - [Vials & Caps](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/vials-and-caps) - [Sample Preparation](https://info.chromatographydirect.com/uct-sample-preparation-products-chromatography-direct) - [Filtration Products](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/filtration-products) - [LC Columns & Accessories](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/lc-columns-and-accessories) - [Instrument Spares](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/instrument-spares) - [Plates & Mats](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/plates-and-mats) - [Flash Chromatography](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/flash-chromatography) - [Solvent Safety](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/solvent-safety) - [GC Columns & Accessories](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/gc-columns-and-accessories) - [Dissolution](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/dissolution) - [Clinical Kits, Standards and Controls](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/products/clinical-kits-standards-and-controls) - [New Products](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/new-products) - [Knowledge Base](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/knowledge-base) - [About Us](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/about-us) - [Offers](https://www.chromatographydirect.com/offers) - [Blog](https://blog.chromatographydirect.com) - [Contact us](https://info.chromatographydirect.com/contact-chromatography-direct) [Contact us](https://info.chromatographydirect.com/contact-chromatography-direct) --- Sep 29, 2026, 8:59:59 AM # PES vs Nylon vs PTFE: Picking the Right Syringe Filter Membrane [Chromatography Direct](https://blog.chromatographydirect.com/author/chromatography-direct) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blog.chromatographydirect.com/pes-vs-nylon-vs-ptfe-picking-the-right-syringe-filter-membrane) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.chromatographydirect.com/pes-vs-nylon-vs-ptfe-picking-the-right-syringe-filter-membrane) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://blog.chromatographydirect.com/pes-vs-nylon-vs-ptfe-picking-the-right-syringe-filter-membrane) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://blog.chromatographydirect.com/pes-vs-nylon-vs-ptfe-picking-the-right-syringe-filter-membrane) People treat syringe filter membrane choice as either trivially obvious or impossibly complex, and it's neither. Three membranes cover the vast majority of lab filtration, and choosing between them takes about two minutes. ![Syringe Blog (900 x 300 px)](https://blog.chromatographydirect.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Canva%20images/Syringe%20Blog%20(900%20x%20300%20px).png?width=900&height=300&name=Syringe%20Blog%20(900%20x%20300%20px).png) --- ### PES (Polyethersulfone): the aqueous all-rounder PES is hydrophilic, so it wets aqueous solutions instantly without pre-treatment. It has the highest flow rates of the three common membranes at any given pore size because the pore structure is inherently open and symmetric. Critically, PES has **very low protein binding**. If you're filtering biological samples, cell culture media, protein solutions or anything where analyte loss to the membrane matters, PES is the default. Nylon will adsorb significantly more protein. For HPLC and LC-MS sample prep of aqueous and mixed aqueous-organic samples, PES handles both phases and doesn't strip your analytes. **pH range:** 2 to 14. Handles dilute acids, bases, buffers, and most aqueous reagents without issue. **Use PES for:** Environmental water, biological samples, pharmaceutical QC, HPLC/LC-MS aqueous prep, buffers, culture media, dissolution testing. ### Nylon (Polyamide): the organic-compatible option Nylon is naturally hydrophilic and compatible with a wide range of organic solvents, which makes it the standard choice for filtering HPLC mobile phases and organic-solvent extracts. It handles alcohols, DMSO, acetonitrile and most common chromatography solvents without degradation. The trade-off: nylon binds proteins. If you're filtering anything biological, you lose analyte to the membrane. For protein-containing samples, use PES instead. **Use nylon for:** HPLC and GC solvent filtration, organic extracts, chemical synthesis filtration, non-protein aqueous work. ### PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene): the aggressive-chemistry specialist PTFE is hydrophobic and chemically inert to virtually everything: strong acids, strong bases, aggressive organic solvents. It's the only sensible option for concentrated acids, chlorinated solvents and very aggressive matrices. Because it's hydrophobic, PTFE won't wet with aqueous solutions without pre-wetting with a solvent, which makes it impractical for routine aqueous filtration. It also makes an excellent vent filter for air and gas applications, precisely because it repels water. **Use PTFE for:** Aggressive solvents, strong acids/bases, gas venting, air filtration, and samples that would attack PES and nylon. ### The two-minute decision 1. **Aqueous or mixed aqueous-organic?** PES. Fastest flow, lowest protein binding, widest pH range. 2. **Pure organic solvent or mobile phase?** Nylon. Solvent-compatible and hydrophilic. 3. **Aggressive chemistry, strong acids, chlorinated solvents?** PTFE. Nothing else survives. 4. **Protein in the sample?** PES, always. Nylon costs you analyte. 5. **Dirty matrix?** Add a prefilter. Our PES 0.45µm with built-in 5µm PP prefilter handles high-particulate samples without clogging. ### Stop overthinking it If you're filtering aqueous samples in a lab that does HPLC, LC-MS or environmental work, PES handles 80% of your filtration. Nylon covers the pure-organic remainder. PTFE sits in the cupboard for the occasional nasty matrix. Three membranes, three use cases, done. What most labs get wrong isn't the membrane. It's paying too much for it. A 500-pack of our PES 0.45µm prefiltered syringe filters is £650, which is £1.30 a filter. Compare that with what you're currently paying to see where your budget lands. High-quality consumables at unrivalled prices. 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