P100 Filter 3M 2097 (Pack of 2)

Two 3M 2097 filters, the pink P100 particulate discs with “2097” printed on the face. Blue Alpine freeze dryers use a P100 filter inside the chamber to protect the vacuum pump from particulates, and this is the part Blue Alpine catalogs for it: A00103-00. The pack is $19.98, or $9.99 a filter.

What P100 means on a 3M 2097

P100 is a NIOSH air filtration rating, and it has two parts. The letter describes oil resistance: N for not resistant to oil, R for somewhat resistant, P for strongly resistant. The number is the minimum efficiency in testing, and 100 means the filter stops at least 99.97% of airborne particles.

So a P100 sits at the top on both counts. If you want the full grid of nine classes, the NIOSH air filtration rating article lays it out.

The 3M 2097 also adds nuisance-level organic vapor relief. Treat that as a minor extra. It doesn’t turn the disc into a vapor cartridge, and the P100 rating is the reason it’s used here.

The part number may look familiar. 3M sells the same 3M 2097 for its half-face and full-face respirators. In a freeze dryer it has a different job.

What the filter is there for

The premium vacuum pump that comes with every Blue Alpine dryer is a double-stage, oil-sealed rotary vane pump. Anything fine enough to be pulled out of the chamber along with the air heads toward it. Particles that make it into an oil-sealed pump generally end up in the oil, and dirty oil is no friend to vanes and cylinders.

A P100 disc in the chamber catches that material before it gets that far. It’s a cheap part protecting an expensive one.

Checking your 3M 2097 between batches

We don’t have a set replacement interval for this filter, and we’d rather not make one up. Look at it regularly instead. Replace it when it’s dirty or clogged. Watch for:

• A pink face that has turned gray, brown or blotchy
• Powder or bits of food caked on the surface
• Tears, dents, or a disc that has been crushed out of shape
• Media that got wet and hasn’t dried flat

If you’re unsure, compare it with the clean spare from the pack. The difference is usually obvious once they’re side by side.

An easy habit is to glance at the filter whenever you wipe out the chamber after a batch. It takes seconds. Jot down the date each time you fit a new one, in your manual or on the bag the spare came in. After a few changes you’ll have your own idea of how long a disc lasts with the foods you dry most, which is more useful than any number we could print here.

Fitting a fresh 3M 2097

Unplug the dryer before reaching in. Before you remove the old disc, notice which way it faces and how it’s held, and snap a quick photo if that helps. Fit the new one the same way round, fully seated and square, with nothing folded or pinched at the edge. If the new disc won’t sit the way the old one did, stop and look again rather than forcing it.

Put the spare back in its packaging. Store it somewhere clean and dry, away from dust, so it’s ready when you need it.

3M 2097 questions

Which Blue Alpine machines use it?

Both dryers we sell, the Large Select and the Medium Select, have a P100 filter inside the chamber. For an older unit or a different brand, call +1 (443) 514-5708 before ordering and we’ll help you check.

Can I wash it and use it again?

No. Washing it, or blowing it out with compressed air, can damage the filter media. Swap in a new 3M 2097 instead.

Why two in a pack?

One to fit now, one for the shelf. A spare means a dirty filter never has to stay in “just one more batch” because you’re waiting on an order.

The filters are listed under plumbing and filters, along with the vacuum and drain hose.