Filtration Tutorial

This tutorial is designed to enhance knowledge of the

purification processes used in biotechnology. The topics
covered in this tutorial are meant to provide a succinct
overview of microfiltration and ultrafiltration processes. A
more in-depth study will be referenced throughout the
tutorial. It is recommended that an examination of the
references be performed to further explain any of the
concepts covered in this brief tutorial.
 Overview
¾ Types of Filtration
¾ Microfiltration
¾ How it works?
¾ Ultrafiltration
¾ How it works?
¾ Microfiltration vs. Ultrafiltration
¾ References
 Types of Filtration
¾ 2 Examples:
1. Cross Flow 2. Dead End Flow

Types of flow images from: http://www.che.utexas.edu/nams/IUPAC/iupac.html

 Type 1: Cross Filtration
¾ Flow parallel to
membrane surface

¾ Does not cause buildup,

therefore does not suffer
from reduced flow
overtime

™ F = feed;
M = membrane;
P = permeate; Cross Flow diagram from:
http://www.che.utexas.edu/nams/IUPAC/iupac.html
R = retentate
(components that do NOT
pass through the
membrane)
 Type 2: Dead End Flow
¾ Flow perpendicular to
membrane surface

¾ Causes build up of filter

cake on membrane

™ F = feed;
M = membrane;
P = permeate
(components that pass
through membrane)
Dead-end Flow diagram from:
http://www.che.utexas.edu/nams/IUPAC/iupac.html
 Microfiltration
¾ Separates soluble contaminants remaining
within the supernatant

¾ Supernatant may include:

¾ Other proteins
¾ Bio-molecules
¾ Un-used growth media

Microfiltration image from:

http://www.aaflow.de/filtertech/index.html
 How does Microfiltration
work?
¾ Pressure driven process

¾ Separates:
¾ Components in a solution
or suspension based on
molecular size

¾ Particles size range:

10µm (starches) to aprx.
0.04µm (DNA, Viruses,
and globular proteins)

Microfiltration image from:

http://www.faireymicrofiltrex.com/Vokes%20Mi
crofiltration/media/images/e-fluor.gif
 Ultrafiltration
¾ Usually used to
further separate any
contaminants able to
pass through the
microfiltration
membrane using a
pressure gradient

Ultrafiltration image from:

http://www.awatec.ch/produkte/ultrafiltration.jpg
 How does Ultrafiltration work?
¾ Separates:
¾ Particle size range:
0.1µm to 0.001µm

¾ Usually based on
molecular weight
¾ Typical range:
200 to 300,000 g/mole

Ultrafiltration image from:

http://www.toltecint.com/how_dialysis_works/how_hemodial
ysis_works.htm
 Microfiltration vs. Ultrafiltration
¾ Microfiltration:
¾ Proteins act as the
permeate

¾ Ultrafiltration
¾ Proteins act as the
retentate
Images from:
http://www.geafil
tration.com/html/
technology/ftech
nology.html
Microfiltration vs. Ultrafiltration
¾ Microfiltration: ¾ Ultrafiltration
¾ Separates larger particles ¾ Separates smaller particles
¾ For example- ¾ For example-
¾ Colloids ¾ Macromolecules
¾ Fat globules
¾ Cells
¾ Located upstream to
reduce load and fouling
capacity on ultrafiltration However,
membrane downstream
processes are
basically identical
 References
„ [1] Case Study Solution - Facility Design for Antigenic
Co-proteins (2003). CHE 451. NCSU
„ [2] Grandison, A. S. & Lewis, M. J. (Eds.). (1996)
Separation Processes in the Food and Biotechnology
Industries. Woodhead Publishing. Retrieved November
30, 2003 from Knovel Chemistry and Chemical
Engineering Database.
„ [3] Zeman, L. J. & Zydney, A. L. (1996) Microfiltration
and Ultrafiltration: Principles and Applications. New York:
Marcel Dekker, Inc. Available via NCSU libraries as an
eBook