 |
Introduction to Membrane Separations
The purification of biological therapeutics generally utilizes both membrane and chromatographic separations. Membrane separations are complementary to chromatography.
GE Healthcare makes two classes of membrane separations products:
Both classes comprise systems and devices, both permit high membrane packing density and both can be scaled from laboratory to production volumes.
Available for both cross flow and ultrafiltration processes, membrane separations are best known for open feed-stream paths, eliminating the compromise of mammalian cell viability.
How cross flow membranes work:
..
GE Healthcare separations cassettes and cartridges are designed for cross flow (tangential flow) operation. Unlike single pass or dead-ended filtration, cross flow methodology continuously sweeps the membrane surface by recirculating the feedstream across it. Doing so minimizes blinding of the membrane pores and promotes consistent, long-term productivity; it also allows units to be cleaned, stored, and re-used as needed.
As the feedstream is pumped through the cassette or cartridge, the retentate - the materials excluded by the membrane pores - continues through the recirculation loop, while the permeate, including solvent and solutes, is transported through the membrane pores and collected separately.
Kvick™ Cassette Systems
The Kvick system Provides a new type of zero dead space that exhibits high selectivity and sharp-cutoff, low extractable materials of constructions and minimal hold-up volumes. Kvick systems are designed for easy setup, enhanced cleanability, and optimum membrane selectivity.
 | Lab Scale - 1 to 100 litres
The Kvick Lab system is a flexible labscale separations system and is available with two different membrane areas and five molecular weight cutoffs; to fit a broad range of cross flow applications; 10k, 10k select, 30k, 50k, 100k.
View the entire Kvick lab product range. |
Hollow Fiber Cartridges and Systems
Unlike other TFF membrane products, GE Healthcare's Hollow Fiber Membrane cartridges resist higher temperatures for cleaning and sanitization and are available in “AUTOCLAVABLE” or “STEAM-IN-PLACE” options depending on cartridge model.
Download the product selection guide to select the best product for your Hollow Fiber System and Cartridge needs.
..Hollow Fiber Cartridges
Lab Scale - Up to 500 mls
| MidGee Cartridges are designed for small scale processing, rapid laboratory concentration and/or diafiltration of critical biological solution volumes with convenience and speed impossible to achieve using stirred cells or dialysis tubing. |
| MidGee Hoop Cartridges are similar to MidGee cross flow cartridge but are looped to provide a smaller footprint on your lab bench. |
..
Lab Scale - Up to 5L's
| Xampler ultrafiltration and microfiltration cartridges are designed for laboratory scale processing, with typical volumes ranging from a few hundred mls to about 5 liters of solution. |
|  |
| .. | |
Pilot Scale - 2 Litres to 200 Litres
To bridge the several steps between research and production volumes, Amersham Biosciences offers a full range of pilot scale ultrafiltration and microfiltration hollow fiber membrane cartridges.
..
Process Scale - 50 Litres to 1000's of Litres
Process scale hollow fiber cartridges offered by Amersham Biosciences are provided in 8 basic configurations covering a membrane area range of 9.9 to 300 ft2 depending on the fiber internal diameter.
Process Scale (size 35, 55 and 75 cartridges) with integral 1.5-in-TC connections are free-standing modules that do not require any housings or adapters.
| MaxCellTM Cartridges are easily manifolded in parallel to handle large process volumes. Their unique end fitting configuration available in "straight" or "elbow" configuration allows excellent visibility of the cartridge ends for inspection and cleaning. Our Largest Maxcell Cartridge the size 85, with 0.5 mm inner diameter fibers, contains 1402 ft of membrane area. |
| Large Process Scale
ProCellTM cartridges of 15 cm (6-inch diameter) are intended for production scale ultrafiltration and microfiltration applications. Containing up to 300 ft2 of membrane area in a single, compact module. These cartridges are well suited to a wide range of large scale bioprocessing applications. |
Speciality Cartridges - Steam-in-place Cartridges
Process Scale cartridges are available in Steam-in-Place (SIP) cartridge designs that are able to withstand the steaming cycle used in GMP clinical manufacturing of injectable drugs. Smaller cartridge designs are available as “autoclavable”.
Retrofit Cartridges
GE Healthcare hollow fiber membrane cartridges can retrofit, and thereby upgrade the performance of, most installed membrane systems. Click here for more details.
..Hollow Fiber Systems
..
| Lab Scale - Up to 200 ml - MidjetTM System
MidJet Labscale Membrane Separations System enables you to separate, concentrate, and diafilter small volumes of biological solutions. Designed for use with MidGee and MidGee Hoop Cross Flow Cartridges, this system offers a minimum working volume of 5-10 ml. |
..
| Lab Scale - Up to 10L - QuixStandTM benchtop System
QuixStand benchtop system is a compact, laboratory-scale separations system that is ideal for use with Xampler Cartridges for most small laboratory applications. Minimum working volume 50-60 ml. |
Pilot Scale
| Up to 100L - FlexstandTM benchtop pilot system
The FlexStand features completely autoclavable modular components and is offered in 2 formats:
Low-Void Volume FlexStand System
- 5 - 30+ litres
- Minimum working volume of 500 ml
Standard FlexStand System
- 5 - 250+ litres
- Minimum working volume of 1-2 litres
|
| Process Scale
1000+l GrandStandTM process system
GrandStand process systems are designed to support a wide selection of GE Healthcare's hollow fiber ultrafiltration and/or microfiltration cartridges. With its unique flexible support system in place, the system can accommodate cartridges of any length. Has a minimal working volume of 15-20 litres. |
Production Volume Membrane Separations Systems
The UniFlux™ systems are built on portable skids for the flexibility and are intended for pilot through production scale biological separations. They are available in three sizes, based on recirculation pump capacity and are capable of processing batches of 50 - 10,000+ liters of feed material.
The UniFlux™ A system utilizes UNICORNTM software for full automation with data logging capabilities of the entire cross flow process. |
|
|
|
