Patent ID: 7270744
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: B01D,G01N

Abstract:
1. An automated tangential flow filtration process development device for conducting a lab-scale tangential flow filtration process at a low minimum recirculation volume and acquiring process development data thereabout, the process development device comprising: (a) a reservoir suitable for containing a fluid sample and having a reservoir inlet and reservoir outlet, said reservoir having a continuous internal volume comprising a substantially cylindrical upstream enclosure which tapers at a downstream end into a distinct mixing zone, said distinct mixing zone having a substantially fractionally smaller volume than the substantially cylindrical upstream enclosure, said reservoir inlet and reservoir outlet being positioned in said distinct mixing zone; (b) a tangential flow filtration module having a feed inlet, a retentate outlet, a permeate outlet, and a membrane capable of separating the liquid sample into a retentate stream and a permeate stream upon passage of said liquid sample into the tangential flow filtration module through the feed inlet; (c) a plurality of conduits defining, together with said distinct mixing zone and said filtration module, a fluid process stream through which said fluid sample is conducted, wherein said fluid process stream flows from said distinct mixing zone, into said filtration module, and recirculated back to said distinct mixing zone, wherein the minimum recirculation volume of said fluid process stream is no greater than 20 milliliters; (d) a plurality of pumps and valves for driving and regulating the flow of said fluid sample through said fluid process stream; (e) a plurality of sensors for acquiring data about the fluid sample as it flows through said fluid process stream, a functional probing end of at least one of said plurality of sensors being positioned within said distinct mixing zone; and (f) an electronic data processing network capable at least of receiving, transmitting, processing, and recording data associated with the operation of said pumps, valves, and sensors and wherein the recorded data collected in the conduct of said tangential flow filtration process at said lab-scale is sufficiently comprehensive to determine the conduct of said tangential flow filtration process at a substantially larger scale.