Heraeus Sepatech Gmbh

Holger Schmeisser

Heinz-Gerhard Kohn

An improved method and apparatus for separating high-molecular-weight substances from cells suspended in liquid nutrient media, features continuous central monitoring and control of the process by a computer (22), and a way to combine the heretofore separate processes of first, separating media into solid and liquid components, and second, concentrating the proportion of high-molecular-weight components in the separated liquid. The media are conveyed by a first pump (3) to a centrifuge continuous flow rotor (2), which separates the solids from the liquid components and directs the latter to an intermediate reservoir (5), which sits on an electric scale (7) which is continuously monitored. From here they are fed to a filtration unit (9) in which the high-molecular-weight substances are separated and recycled through a feedback line (11), with the aid of a second pump (10), into the intermediate reservoir (5). The central computer and control unit (22) controls the centrifuge and pumps, monitors the scale (7) and pressure sensors (13), and adjusts the process parameters. An optical sensor (26) monitors the solids content at the centrifuge output (4).

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Gottingen, Germany

Holger Schmeisser