VEE GEE 6168-0001 is the SIBATA 300 mL fritted glass filter system for general and biological filtration applications, accepting 47 mm membrane and depth filters. The complete kit includes a 300 mL graduated borosilicate glass funnel (6168-4711), fritted glass support base (6168-4722), #8 silicone stopper (6168-4751), and anodized aluminum tension clamp (6168-4762) — everything required for vacuum-assisted membrane filtration straight out of the box. The fritted glass support base is the standard choice for general lab and biological applications; for ultraclean filtrate or proteinaceous solutions, the stainless steel screen variant (6168-0002) is the appropriate alternative. Maximum total capacity is 350 mL. Fully autoclavable at 121°C for 20 minutes.
Kit Contents
- 300 mL Graduated Borosilicate Glass Funnel (6168-4711) — calibrated funnel for loading sample volumes up to 300 mL, with pour spout and ground-glass mating surface
- Fritted Glass Support Base (6168-4722) — coarse-frit borosilicate glass base that supports the 47 mm filter membrane; appropriate for general and biological filtration applications
- Silicone Stopper #8 (6168-4751) — fits standard 1000 mL filter flask sidearm; perforated to connect the vacuum line
- Anodized Aluminum Tension Clamp (6168-4762) — spring-loaded clamp with tension screw firmly locks the funnel to the support base during filtration to prevent leaks under vacuum
Features & Benefits
- 47 mm Filter Diameter — Industry Standard: Accepts all standard 47 mm membrane filters and depth prefilters. Effective filtration area is 9.6 cm² (47 mm filter). Prefilter diameter is 35 mm (prefilter not included).
- Fritted Glass Base — General and Biological Applications: The coarse-frit glass support provides uniform support for the membrane across the filtration area, and is the standard base type for water QC, microbiological filtration, and general lab filtration. For proteinaceous samples or ultra-low protein-binding requirements, the stainless steel screen base (6168-0002) is the appropriate choice.
- Borosilicate Glass Construction: The funnel and base are constructed from high-quality borosilicate glass — chemical resistant to acids, bases, solvents, and biological buffers; fully transparent for direct observation of filtration; and autoclavable for sterilization between uses.
- Autoclavable at 121°C: The complete kit — funnel, base, stopper, and clamp — can be autoclaved at 121°C (250°F) for 20 minutes for full sterilization between uses in microbiological and sterility testing applications. Always remove membrane filter before autoclaving.
- 300 mL Graduated Funnel — 350 mL Max Capacity: The 300 mL funnel accommodates sample volumes to 300 mL, with a maximum total system capacity of 350 mL including the base volume. Suitable for bacteriological water analysis, suspended solids determination, and membrane filtration of moderate-volume samples.
- SIBATA-Manufactured Precision: The 6168 series is manufactured by SIBATA Scientific Technology Ltd. to exacting tolerances — a Japanese precision instrument maker whose filter holders are widely used in EPA, ASTM, and standard methods water quality testing.
- 1-Year Warranty: Backed by VEE GEE Scientific's standard instrument warranty.
Specifications
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| SKU | 6168-0001 |
| Support Base Type | Fritted Glass |
| Funnel Capacity | 300 mL |
| Max System Capacity | 350 mL |
| Filter Diameter | 47 mm |
| Effective Filtration Area | 9.6 cm² |
| Prefilter Diameter | 35 mm (prefilter not included) |
| Funnel Material | Borosilicate Glass |
| Autoclavable | Yes — 121°C (250°F), 20 min (without filter) |
| Clamp | Anodized Aluminum with tension screw |
| Stopper | Silicone #8 |
| Quantity | 1 Each (complete kit) |
| Country of Origin | Taiwan |
| Manufacturer | SIBATA Scientific Technology Ltd. |
| Brand | VEE GEE Scientific |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
6168 Filter System Series Comparison
| SKU | Support Base | Funnel | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6168-0001 (this item) | Fritted Glass | 300 mL | General & biological filtration |
| 6168-0002 | Stainless Steel Screen + PTFE gasket | 300 mL | Ultraclean filtrate, proteinaceous solutions |
| 6168-0003 | Fritted Glass | 100 mL | General & biological, smaller volumes |
| 6168-0004 | Stainless Steel Screen + PTFE gasket | 100 mL | Ultraclean filtrate, smaller volumes |
Laboratory Applications
The 6168-0001 is the standard workhorse vacuum filtration assembly for a wide range of laboratory filtration tasks. Water quality and environmental labs use it for bacteriological analysis of water samples per Standard Methods and EPA methods — placing sterile 47 mm membrane filters on the fritted glass base, loading up to 300 mL of water sample, and applying vacuum to drive the sample through the membrane for microbial enumeration. Suspended solids analysis (TSS, turbidity) also uses this exact setup. Microbiology labs use it for sterility testing, culture media preparation, and buffer filtration. Chemistry and analytical labs use it for clarification of particulate-containing samples before HPLC or spectroscopic analysis. The 300 mL funnel volume is the standard choice for most environmental and biological applications — for smaller sample volumes or when bench space is limited, the 100 mL fritted glass variant (6168-0003) is available. For proteinaceous samples where protein adsorption to fritted glass is a concern, use the stainless steel screen version (6168-0002).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 6168-0001 include membrane filters?
No. The kit includes the funnel, fritted glass support base, silicone stopper, and aluminum clamp only — membrane filters and prefilters are sold separately. Use standard 47 mm diameter membrane filters; 35 mm diameter prefilters can also be placed on the base before the membrane for applications requiring depth prefiltration.
When should I choose the fritted glass base (6168-0001) vs. the stainless steel screen base (6168-0002)?
Use the fritted glass base for general lab filtration, water quality analysis, bacteriological testing, and biological buffer filtration — the vast majority of standard 47 mm filtration applications. Use the stainless steel screen base (6168-0002) when you need ultraclean filtrate with minimal extractables, when filtering protein solutions where glass adsorption is a concern, or when working with aggressive solvents that require PTFE gasketing. The stainless steel screen base also allows easier cleaning and visual inspection of the filter during use.
Can I autoclave the 6168-0001 with the membrane filter in place?
No. Always remove the membrane filter before autoclaving. Membrane filters are generally not autoclave-compatible — most will deform, melt, or lose their pore integrity at 121°C. Autoclave the glass funnel, fritted base, stopper, and clamp separately without a filter, then aseptically assemble the unit and place the sterile membrane filter immediately before use.
Does this system fit a standard 1000 mL filter flask?
Yes. The included #8 silicone stopper is sized to fit the sidearm of a standard 1000 mL filtering (vacuum) flask — the most common flask size used with 47 mm filtration systems. The sidearm connects to a vacuum pump or aspirator to draw the sample through the membrane.
Ordering
Authorized dealer, ships from USA inventory. Serving academic, government, and research laboratories nationwide.