Different Types of Qualitative Whatman Filter Paper & their Properties

The most common qualitative paper grades are 1-6, 595, 597, 598, and 602, which have applications across multiple industries. Below are su
properties and common uses.
Paper Grade Available Sizes Properties
Circles: 10 mm to 150 cm (available
prepleated) Particle retention1: 11µm

Sheets: 26 x 31 mm to 600 x 600 mm Nominal thickness: 180 µm

Nominal basis weight: 87 g/m2

Filter Paper Grade 1
Nominal ash content2: 0.06%

Circles: 42.5 mm to 500 mm (available

prepleated) Particle retention1: 8µm

Filter Paper Grade 2 Sheets: 460 x 570 mm to 580 x 680 mm Nominal thickness: 190 µm
Nominal basis weight: 97 g/m2
Nominal ash content2:
0.06%
Circles: 23 mm to 320 mm (available
prepleated) Particle retention1: 6µm
Filter Paper Grade 3 Sheets: 26 x 31 mm to 600 x 600 mm Nominal thickness: 390 µm
Nominal basis weight: 185 g/m2
Nominal ash content2: 0.06%
Circles: 27 mm to 400 mm (available
prepleated) Particle retention1: 25µm
Sheets: 38 x 114 mm to 580 x 580 mm Nominal thickness: 210 µm
Filter Paper Grade 4 Nominal basis weight: 92 g/m2
Nominal ash content2:
0.06%
Circles: 25 mm to 320 mm (available
prepleated) Particle retention1: 2.5µm
Nominal thickness: 200 µm
Filter Paper Grade 5 Nominal basis weight: 100 g/m2
Nominal ash content2:
0.06%
 Circles: 42.5 mm to 240 mm (available
prepleated)
Filter Paper Grade 6
Sheet: 580 x 580mm
Filter Paper Grade 591
Circles: 110 mm to 150 mm (available
prepleated)
Filter Paper Grade 595 Sheet: 580 x 580mm
Circles: 12.7 mm to 320 mm (available
prepleated)
Filter Paper Grade 597
Circles: 40mm x 100mm
Filter Paper Grade 597L
Circles: 90 mm (available prepleated)
Sheet: 580 x 580mm
Filter Paper Grade 598
Circles: 125 mm to 240 mm (available
prepleated)
Filter Paper Grade 602h
Particle retention1: 3µm
Nominal thickness: 180 µm
Nominal basis weight: 100 g/m2
Nominal ash content2:
0.06%
Particle retention1: 12µm
Typical thickness: 180 µm
Basis weight: 161 g/m2
Nominal ash content2:
0.06%
Particle retention1: 7µm
Typical thickness: 180 µm
Basis weight: 68 g/m2
Alpha cellulose: 98% minimum
Particle retention1: 4-7µm
Typical thickness: 180 µm
Basis weight: 85 g/m2
Alpha cellulose: 98% minimum
Particle retention1: 7µm
Typical thickness: 180 µm
Basis
Particleweight: : 8-
82 1g/m
retention 2
10µm
Typical thickness: 320 µm
Basis weight: 140 g/m2
Particle retention1: <2µm
Typical thickness: 160 µm
Basis weight: 84 g/m2
lications across multiple industries. Below are summaries of the grade

Applications
Grade 1 is the most widely used filter paper in routine
applications requiring medium retention
and flow rate, and is most frequently used for clarifying
liquids. Specific applications include:
Qualitative analytical separation for lead sulfate, calcium
oxalate, and calcium carbonate
Soil analysis and seed testing
Separating foodstuffs from associated liquid or extracting
liquid
Collecting atmospheric dust for photometric measurement
Gas detection through the addition of a chromogenic
reagent
Grade 2 is slightly more retentive than Grade 1, with an
equivalent increase in filtration time. Specific applications
include:
Plant growth trials, where the extra absorbency is utilized to
hold soil nutrient
Contaminant monitoring in air and soil

Grade 3 is double the thickness of Grade 1, so it can hold

more precipitate without clogging and has increased wet
strength. It is designed for use in Büchner funnels, and the
high absorbency makes Grade 3 well suited for sample
transport after collection.

Grade 4 is a fast filter material that is well suited for retention

of coarse particles and gelatinous precipitates, such as ferric
hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide. Specific applications
include:
Air pollution monitoring where the collection of fine particles is
not critical
Routine clean-up of biological fluids or organic extracts

Grade 5 provides the maximum degree of fine particle

retention in the qualitative paper range, with an equivalent
slow flow rate. Specific applications include:
Retaining fine precipitates in chemical analysis
Clarifying cloudy suspensions in soil and water analysis
Thick with a high loading capacity, Grade 6 provides similar
particle retention to Grade 5 with twice the flow rate. It has
high absorbency and increased wet strength, and is often
specified for boiler water analysis.
lant growth trials, where the extra absorbency is utilized to
hold soil nutrient
Contaminant monitoring in air and soil

A thick filter paper with very high loading capacity for fast
filtration of medium to coarse precipitates. Offers high
absorbency and increased wet strength. Also available
prepleated as Grade 591 ½.

Popular thin filter papers, Grade 595 provides medium-fast

flow rate and fine particle retention. It is used in a variety of
routine analytical applications, including:
Particle separation from food extracts
Filtration of solids from digested environmental samples for
iCP/AAs analysis
A medium-fast flow rate paper with medium-to-fine particle
retention, Grade 597 is used in a variety of routine analytical
applications, including:
Determination of fat content in food testing
Removal of carbon dioxide and turbidity from beer and other
beverages
A qualitative filter paper with low fat content. Suitable for
nitrate determination in foodstuffs to §35 LMBG* (* LMBG =
German law for food and consumer products).
Particle separation from food extracts
Filtration of solids from digested environmental samples for
iCP/AAs analysis

A medium-fast to fast flow rate paper with medium particle

retention, Grade 598 has a high thickness, giving it a high
loading capacity.
Particle separation from food extracts
Filtration of solids from digested environmental samples for
iCP/AAs analysis

Grade 602 h is a dense filter designed for collecting very fine

particles. It is commonly used in the beverage industry for:
Residual sugar determination
Acidic spectra
Refractometric analysis
HPLC