Filtration systems, components and methods
This disclosure generally relates to purification systems using tangential flow filtration (“TFF”) (“TFF systems”) that include at least one single-use, disposable flow path wherein the disposable flow path is comprised of a disposable cassette manifold, disposable tubing (including associated components) and a disposable reactor vessel.
1 . A tangential flow filtration (TFF) system providing a disposable flow path for processing a fluid feed material, the system comprising a disposable reactor vessel and a disposable TFF flow path comprising a disposable single use TFF filtration unit, wherein:
the disposable reactor vessel comprises feed material and/or buffer and is connected through disposable low-pressure tubing to a feed pump;
the disposable single use TFF filtration unit comprises:
a bottom support base comprising a manifold supply inlet and a permeate drain, and
a top support base comprising a manifold outlet and a permeate outlet, and, cassette filters;
the feed pump is further connected through disposable high-pressure tubing to the manifold supply inlet;
a recirculation pump connected to a recirculation loop comprising a supply side conduit connected to the manifold supply inlet and a return side conduit connected to the manifold outlet, the supply side and return side conduits being comprised of disposable high-pressure tubing;
the return side conduit comprises a retentate return outlet for return of the feed and/or retentate to the disposable reactor vessel through low-pressure disposable tubing;
the disposable reactor vessel is not directly connected to the high-pressure disposable tubing;
the disposable reactor vessel, disposable low-pressure tubing, disposable high-pressure tubing, and disposable single use TFF filtration unit are comprised of plastic, thermoplastic elastomer, rubber, high-density polyethylene, a combination of low-density and high-density polyethylene, or nylon; and,
the disposable high-pressure tubing has a Shore durometer of at least 40 D or is braided reinforced silicon.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the disposable single use TFF filtration unit can stably process feed material at a pressure of up to about 60 pounds per square inch (psig).
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the disposable single use TFF filtration unit is comprised of plastic.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the disposable high-pressure tubing has a Shore durometer of at least about 60 D.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the disposable single use TFF filtration unit is fluidly connected to one or more TFF filtration cassette(s) providing approximately 5 m 2 to in excess of 40 m 2 surface area for filtration of feed material.
6 . The system of claim 1 comprising multiple disposable single use TFF filtration units fluidly connected in series, wherein feed material flows from an initial TFF cassette to a terminal TFF cassette.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the disposable reactor vessel is a cone-bottom or tulip-bottom vessel.
8 . The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one valve for controlling flow into and/or from one or more of said filtration elements, said at least one valve being fluidly connected to at least one pump.
9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one valve and at least one pump are controlled by a computer.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the disposable cassette manifold can stably process feed material at a pressure of up to about 60 pounds per square inch (psig).
11 . A method for purifying and/or concentrating a product present within a feed material, the method comprising passing the feed material through using the system of claim 1 .
12 . The method of claim 11 further comprising passing the feed material through the disposable single use TFF filtration unit to produce a retentate and isolating the retentate, and/or recirculating the retentate through the disposable single use TFF filtration unit to produce a purified and/or concentrated product.
13 . The method of claim 12 wherein the feed material is passed through the disposable single use TFF filtration unit at a pressure of up to about 60 pounds per square inch (psig).
14 . The system of claim 6 wherein at least one additional TFF cassette is positioned between the initial TFF cassette and the terminal TFF cassette.
15 . The system of claim 10 wherein the disposable cassette manifold is comprised of plastic comprising nylon and/or high-density polyethylene (HDPE).