ELGA PURELAB FLEX Technical Document

Importance of the topic

Ultrapure water is a cornerstone of modern analytical chemistry, underpinning reliable results in applications ranging from HPLC to molecular biology. Consistent water quality minimizes background noise, prevents column fouling, and ensures reproducible data in critical laboratory workflows.

Objectives and Overview of the Document

This technical overview details the PURELAB® flex family of bench-top water purification systems. It summarizes their design features, performance specifications, consumable options, and recommended operating conditions to guide selection for diverse laboratory requirements.

Methodology and Instrumentation

• Multi-stage purification trains combining pre-treatment, reverse osmosis, ion exchange, UV photolysis, and sub-micron filtration.
• Defined feedwater quality parameters (fouling index, chlorine, silica, TOC) and operational ranges (pressure, temperature, flow).
• Model variants (flex 1, 2, 3, 3+) calibrated to daily throughput and purity demands.

Instrumentation Used

• PURELAB flex units with compact footprints: 236 mm width, depths of 374–470 mm, heights of 900–1020 mm, and weights from 11 kg to 23 kg.
• Key consumables: de-ionisation packs, 0.2 µm point-of-use microfilters, 185/254 nm UV lamps, endotoxin-removing biofilters, reverse osmosis assemblies, composite vent filters.
• Optional accessories: foot switch, wall-mount kit, leak detector, pressure regulator, bypass pack, BMS communication kit, Hubgrade connectivity for remote monitoring.

Main Results and Discussion

• Water quality: resistivity up to 18.2 MΩ·cm, TOC below 5 ppb, total viable count ≤0.001 CFU/ml, endotoxins ≤0.001 EU/ml, RNase and DNase below detection limits.
• Flow stability of 2 L/min supports routine laboratory demands without fluctuations.
• Feedwater tolerance: fouling index <10, free chlorine <0.5 ppm, silica <30 ppm, operating temperature 4–40 °C.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Modular design enables rapid installation and space-efficient placement in laboratories.
• Predictable maintenance cycles: consumables with service lives from 3 months to 3 years, reducing unplanned downtime.
• Consistent ultrapure water delivery ensures optimal performance in analytical instrumentation, cell culture, buffer preparation, and quality control assays.

Future Trends and Opportunities

• Integration of IoT-enabled sensors and cloud-based analytics for real-time performance tracking and predictive maintenance.
• Development of advanced resin chemistries and UV technologies for extended consumable lifetimes and lower environmental impact.
• Customization for high-throughput and continuous-flow applications in bioprocessing and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Conclusion

The PURELAB flex series provides a flexible, high-performance solution for laboratories requiring reliable, ultrapure water. Its scalable models, comprehensive consumable options, and digital connectivity make it well suited for evolving analytical and bioprocessing demands.

References

No literature references were provided in the original document.