Choosing the Right Compressed Air and Gas Filters …

When it comes to lab operations, precision isn’t limited to instruments and data—it extends to every utility supporting the workflow, including compressed air and gas delivery. Whether you're running a gas chromatograph, maintaining glove boxes, or driving lab automation systems, the reliability and cleanliness of your air supply matter. That’s where high-quality compressed air and gas filters come into play.

At Air & Vacuum Process, Inc., we understand the demands of laboratory environments. Our wide selection of filtration systems ensures you get the right level of performance and cleanliness without compromising efficiency or safety. Let’s break down how these filters meet laboratory-grade standards and which models to consider.

Why Compressed Air and Gas Filters Matter in the Lab

Laboratory-grade air must be free from oil aerosols, water vapor, particulates, and other contaminants that can skew analytical results or damage sensitive equipment. To ensure consistent quality, labs often follow ISO 8573-1 standards, which define purity classes for compressed air. In many cases, a lab’s instrumentation demands Class 1 or Class 2 purity levels.

Compressed air and gas filters serve a crucial role here—removing harmful particles and moisture before they reach instruments. Clean air ensures repeatable results, longer equipment lifespan, and consistent operation across experiments or production cycles. But not all filters are created equal, and that’s why product selection matters.

Van Air Systems F200 Series: Built for Clean Performance

The F200 Series from Van Air Systems stands out as an excellent solution for labs due to its:

• Flow range from 15 to 1000 SCFM at 100 PSIG
• Nine filtration grades from 25 microns down to 0.01 microns
• ISO 8573-1 compliance, ensuring it meets stringent lab air standards
• Cast aluminum housings with epoxy coating for corrosion resistance
• Push-on elements with durable polyester drain layers for fast service
• Optional pop-up differential pressure indicators and automatic drains

These features make the F200 Series highly adaptable to various lab environments, from small research stations to multi-user lab facilities. Labs often look for long-term reliability and minimal downtime, and the F200’s low-maintenance design supports consistent operations even in high-use scenarios.

Notable F200 Series Models

• F200-800 Compressed Air Filter, 3" In/Out Conn.
  Perfect for larger laboratory applications or shared compressed air systems with higher flow requirements. It’s an ideal choice for lab networks supplying air to multiple stations across a single floor or wing.
• F200-150 Compressed Air Filter, 1" In/Out Conn.
  An excellent mid-range option for labs running multiple instruments simultaneously. It’s also suitable for labs that integrate small-scale automated systems that operate intermittently throughout the day.
• F200-100 Compressed Air Filter, 1" In/Out Conn.
  Suitable for single-instrument setups or bench-scale operations. This unit delivers lab-grade filtration without taking up excessive space or requiring complex installation.

Each of these models minimizes pressure drop while delivering laboratory-grade air purity. With wall-mounting accessories and automatic drain options, these filters are practical to install and service, making them especially appealing for lab managers prioritizing uptime and space efficiency.

Van Air Systems F101 Series: For High-Volume Laboratory Setups

Labs dealing with pilot-scale or production-scale processes need more airflow—and the F101 Series is engineered for exactly that. With flow capacities from 500 to 5000 SCFM, these units are ideal for large institutional or pharmaceutical environments.

Features include:

• ASME-stamped welded steel construction
• 10 filtration grades, from 25 micron to 0.01 micron
• Standard 250 PSIG max pressure, with options up to 1440 PSIG
• Quick-change push-on elements

For labs that double as production or formulation centers, the F101 Series is more than up to the task. These filters are best used in applications involving the transfer or processing of gases in clean environments, such as sterile packaging or biopharmaceutical production. The rugged construction and high-capacity design allow for uninterrupted performance during extended processing cycles.

Van Air Systems F102 Series: Industrial-Grade Separation

The F102 Series goes beyond standard coalescing filters—it’s a filter-separator hybrid ideal for compressed gas systems in large-scale applications. Although typically used in natural gas processing, its robust filtration performance (up to 20,000 SCFM) makes it viable in advanced R&D labs or pilot-scale clean processing environments.

Key highlights:

• Dual-stage filtration: Knockout plus coalescing
• Particle removal down to 0.01 micron
• Oil aerosol removal to 0.004 ppmw
• Flow capacity starts at 1500 SCFM

This system is ideal for labs working with high volumes of inert or process gases and requiring industrial-level reliability. These include hydrogen labs, semiconductor testing facilities, or any specialized research center handling volatile gases under controlled conditions. The dual-chamber design increases safety while improving overall air/gas purity, offering an extra layer of defense in sensitive workflows.

High-Pressure Filters from United Filtration: Precision at 10,000 PSIG

Not every lab runs at standard pressure. For specialty setups like sample process analyzers, cryogenic research, or aerospace simulation, high-pressure filtration is essential. United Filtration’s High Pressure Series offers exactly that—durable, machined (not cast) housings rated up to 10,000 PSIG.

Applications include:

• Fuel gas filtration
• Instrument air for analyzers
• Gas plant sampling
• Alternative fuel production labs
• Booster compressor service filtration

These filters come in connection sizes from 1/8" to 2" and offer a wide selection of filter elements, including pleated stainless steel and microfiber. Their compact size and robust design make them highly compatible with confined research benches and modular analyzer stations. For labs exploring non-conventional energy systems or high-pressure fluid dynamics, these filters offer precision filtration at extreme thresholds.

What to Consider When Choosing Filters for Lab Use

To select the best compressed air and gas filters for your lab, consider the following:

• Required purity level (based on ISO 8573-1)
• Flow capacity to meet simultaneous equipment demands
• Maximum working pressure (some instruments need higher than 100 PSIG)
• Ease of maintenance (look for push-on elements and pressure indicators)
• Space and mounting constraints (wall kits and compact models help)
• Drainage system (automatic drains can prevent human error or delay)
• Filter media flexibility (choose between microfiber, pleated, or stainless steel depending on application)

Van Air Systems and United Filtration offer solutions that meet or exceed these criteria. Their range covers everything from cleanroom-ready bench filters to production-scale filtration modules. Whether your focus is pharmaceutical formulation, material sciences, or bioengineering, matching filtration to lab process demands helps ensure long-term instrument integrity and operator safety.

Need a Filter that Fits Your Needs?

Your lab’s compressed air system isn’t just a utility—it’s a critical component of your experimental integrity. With the right compressed air and gas filters, you protect your instruments, streamline your operations, and meet regulatory standards with confidence.

We carry the full range of Van Air Systems filters and high-pressure filtration solutions tailored for labs of every size. Whether you’re outfitting a single instrument or an entire facility, we’ll help you find a filter that fits your needs and your pressure points.

Have questions or want to explore options further? Explore our full selection of compressed air and gas filters here, or reach out to our team for expert guidance on laboratory-compatible filtration solutions.