Does the Buchner funnel have a better alternative with less loss?

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The discussion focuses on the efficiency and practicality of using Buchner funnels versus sintered glass funnels for suction filtration in laboratory settings. While Buchner funnels are commonly used and effective, concerns about transfer loss when using filter paper lead to exploring alternatives. Sintered glass funnels, available in various pore sizes, can perform comparably to Buchner funnels but eliminate the need for filter paper, which can be a logistical advantage. However, they are more expensive and may complicate cleaning, as residues can be harder to remove from the glass. The choice between these options largely depends on the specific application, sample size, and cost considerations, with micropore PTFE filters noted for minimal loss but not suitable for all scenarios. Overall, Buchner funnels remain a reliable choice for larger crystals and slower filtration processes.
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the Buchner funnel is used often in the lab, but i was wondering if there was a great enough transfer loss in the filter paper to switch to an alternate funnel for filtering by suction. I've looked into sintered glass funnels but i don't know if it would have the same transfer loss since the substance could get sucked through the holes as well.
 
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Sintered glass funnels come with different pore sizes (usually listed as fine, medium, coarse, or some variation thereof). They work about as well as a Buchner funnel with a piece of filter paper, but they're a bit more convenient in that you don't have to go begging for filter paper when you run out. That said, the Buchner funnel is usually fine as long as 1) you're crashing out decent sized crystals, and 2) you do the filtration slowly. You can always refilter if stuff pulls through.
 
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Consider cost. Buchner and paper are cheap, sintered glass is expensive.
 
It would depend on your application. Small samples can suffer serious losses when using large filters. The filters I have used with the smallest losses is micropore PTFE filters but they aren’t the best for all applications.
 
KevinMcHugh said:
Consider cost. Buchner and paper are cheap, sintered glass is expensive.

and isn't it more difficult to clean, and to know when you have sufficiently cleaned of stuff stuck in the glass afterwards?
 

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