The biopharmaceutical industry is making increasing use of disposable single-use systems for the development and manufacture of many vaccines, therapeutic proteins and monoclonal antibodies (Mab's). What devices are available on the market? What advantages do they offer? For what applications? Pemflow provides an update.

In the pharmaceutical industry, filtration and separation stages are essential. When the right filters are used, they ensure that, at the end of the chain, products (mainly medicines) are sufficiently purified and safe for patients. They also optimise the production process and limit losses of active molecules or raw materials.

In the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and agri-food industries, production, maintenance and laboratory operators regularly talk about sterilising filtration and, more specifically, 0.22 µm filters (0.22 micron filters) or sterilising filters.

Long used in the food and drink industry, lenticular filters offer optimal, cost-effective solutions for food and drink processing. They are used in particular for applications involving small batches or moderate throughput. Each module is made up of superimposed ‘filter lenses’. What are the advantages, limitations and future developments of these filters?

In the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, cosmetics and food industries in particular, and more generally in any industry deploying critical filtration processes, choosing the most appropriate filtration sequence is essential.

Correct filter sizing is important to ensure that filtration (and running) costs are minimised. Undersized systems will result in high initial pressure losses, short life and, ultimately, a disappointed operator.