<br/>Membrane-based prefilters are an important component of many downstream operations; they are used to remove particulates and increase the throughput of final sterilizing-grade filters, thereby improving filtration economics. Some prefilters also help reduce bioburden which offers an option for increased process safety as intermediate process steps, as well as standalone process step of high throughput where sterilizing filtration is not required.<br/> <br/>In this work, a new class of polyethersulfone (PES) membrane prefilters that can be steam sterilized and gamma irradiated were studied.  Using these prefilters, dramatic improvements in final filter capacity were demonstrated and optimum prefilter to final filter area ratios were determined for both constant pressure and constant flow operation.  These prefilters were also shown to reliably reduce bioburden to very low levels, even at extreme fouling conditions. A methodology for efficiently assessing prefilter performance and for determining optimal filtration process conditions was described

Improve process efficiency in bioprocess streams by prefiltration optimization and bioburden reduction

2019 Spring National Meeting

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