Optimization of tangential flow filtration process
Tangential flow filtration (TFF) is a widely used filtration operation in pharmaceutical technology. Its applications include clarification filtration, product concentration, pyrogen removal, small molecular impurities removal, desalination, buffer replacement and so on. The concept of tangential flow filtration is relative to conventional filtration (NFF for short):
Conventional filtration and tangential flow filtration
The filtration can be divided into clarification filtration, microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and so on.
Accordingly, the membranes with different pore sizes are filtered by tangential flow operation, which can be called tangential flow microfiltration, tangential flow ultrafiltration and so on. It usually includes pumps, membrane packages and fixtures, storage tanks, connecting pipe fittings, valves and pressure gauges.
Typical tangential flow filtration system
The production process of a tangential flow filtration is determined by many parameters, among which the key process parameters are: tangential flow rate, transmembrane pressure (TMP), permeate control, membrane area, dialysis conditions, etc. These parameters affect and restrict each other. In order to improve production efficiency and save cost at the same time, these parameters must be optimized first. These parameters usually need to be determined by experience, experiment, the needs of specific process and various limiting factors. Therefore, the parameter optimization of tangential flow filtration system is a very complex process.
