Industrial multi-stage continuous filtration process: influence of operating parameters

This paper presents a theoretical study of the effects of operating parameters on the behaviour of an industrial crossflow filtration unit. A continuous three stage unit and its application to yeast cell harvesting are considered. A model of standard industrial processing is developed, and the influence of dead volumes, start-up procedure, crossflow and permeation velocities and maximum transmembrane pressure are investigated. Concentration factors are discussed with respect to the effects due to dead volumes.