Methods of tangential flow filtration and an apparatus therefore
First Claim
1. A method for separating a molecular species of interest from a feedstream, comprising:
- (a) filtering said feedstream by a tangential-flow filtration process through a filtration membrane having a pore size that separates said molecular species of interest from said feedstream, while maintaining flux at a level ranging from about 5 to 100% of transition point flux in the pressure-dependent region of the flux versus TMP curve, wherein transmembrane pressure is held substantially constant along the membrane at a level no greater than the transmembrane pressure at the transition point of the filtration, whereby said molecular species of interest is selectively separated from said feedstream such that said molecular species of interest retains its biological activity;
(b) filtering said feedstream by a microfiltration process; and
wherein said molecular species of interest is a protein.
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Abstract
Processes and apparati are provided for separating molecules of interest from a mixture containing them which comprises subjecting the mixture to an improved method of tangential flow filtration (TFF). The improved TFF was used to clarify, and process various feedstreams for the removal of a molecule of interest. According to a preferred embodiment, a transgenic milk feedstream is stabilized and particulate matter such as fat, casein miscelles and bacteria are removed. The method of TFF used in the current invention utilizes optimized process parameters that include temperature, transmembrane pressure, cross-flow velocity, and milk concentration. Cleaning and storage procedures were also developed to ensure long membrane life. An aseptic filtration step was also developed to remove any bacteria remaining in a clarified transgenic milk feedstream.
47 Citations
70 Claims
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1. A method for separating a molecular species of interest from a feedstream, comprising:
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(a) filtering said feedstream by a tangential-flow filtration process through a filtration membrane having a pore size that separates said molecular species of interest from said feedstream, while maintaining flux at a level ranging from about 5 to 100% of transition point flux in the pressure-dependent region of the flux versus TMP curve, wherein transmembrane pressure is held substantially constant along the membrane at a level no greater than the transmembrane pressure at the transition point of the filtration, whereby said molecular species of interest is selectively separated from said feedstream such that said molecular species of interest retains its biological activity;
(b) filtering said feedstream by a microfiltration process; and
wherein said molecular species of interest is a protein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification