The present invention is to a prefilter for purification systems such as
affinity chromatography columns and
ultrafiltration systems. The prefilter, positioned upstream of the
system inlet, reduces the presence of non-specific binding (NSB) species that enter the
system, thereby extending the yield, capacity and lifetime of the
system. Suitable agents include but are not limited to hydrophobic entities; lipophilic entities;
activated carbon; charged cation or anion entities; ligands; particles such as
fumed silica, glass, controlled pore glass or derivitized version of each; silica or silicates; and combinations thereof. The material(s) can be incorporated into a variety of media such as fibers, beads, membranes and the like and then incorporated into a variety of device designs including lenticular pads, depth filters, bead containing columns,
spiral wound devices, TFF devices and the like.