Sartorius Stedim Biotech Gmbh

Bjoern Hansmann

Volkmar Thom

Tobias Foster

Thomas Loewe

The present invention relates to a melt-joined filter element with improved testability after dry steaming or alternatively after sterilization by irradiation, to a method for producing the filter element according to the invention, and to the use of the filter element for filtering solutions.

Filter element with improved testability after dry steaming

The present invention relates to a method for removing biopolymer aggregates and viruses from a fluid. In a first step, the biopolymer aggregates are selectively removed by filtration through a porous, polyamide-comprising shaped body having a native surface. In a second step, the biopolymer aggregate-free fluid is filtered through at least one suitable virus-retentive membrane.

Method for removing biopolymer aggregates and viruses from a fluid

A method for producing a microporous membrane includes providing a microporous starting membrane having outer surfaces and pores with inner surfaces extending between the outer surfaces of the membrane and having a microporous starting membrane permeability. The method impregnates the membrane with an impregnating solution consisting essentially of a solvent and a polymer. The polymer is an organic substance with an average molecular weight of at least 500 g/mol and may be selected from the group consisting of poly(2-ethyloxazoline), polyvinylpyrrolidone-vinyl acetate (PVP-VA) and mixtures thereof. The method then includes irradiating the impregnated membrane with electron beam radiation to provide a crosslinked reaction product constituting a three-dimensional network formed of the microporous starting membrane and the polymer without any decomposition of the microporous starting membrane. The microporous starting membrane permeability is not reduced by more than 10% by fixing the electron beam radiation crosslinked polymer thereto.

Electron beam induced modification of membranes by polymers

A method and an apparatus are provided for carrying out integrity tests of at least one filter element, arranged within a filter housing, with porous filter materials. Sensors are provided for measuring the sound generated by a test fluid when it flows through the filter element. The method includes applying a test fluid to a first side of the filter materials of the filter element while maintaining a constant fluid pressure, measuring the body-borne sound and/or the vibrations caused by test fluid flowing through the filter materials by sensors, and comparing the body-borne sound and/or the vibrations with the body-borne sound and/or the vibrations of an integral, identical filter element, measured under identical conditions.

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Goettingen, Germany

Bjoern Hansmann