Aventis Pharma Deutschland, Gmbh

Jorg Moller

Frank Richard

A peptide such as in a cell-free fermentation medium is ultrafiltered with a membrane having a molecular weight cut-off of at least approximately two times greater than the molecular weight of the peptide. The peptide is retained by the membrane, and is desalinated and concentrated to provide prepurification of the peptide. A preferred temperature for ultrafiltration is about 5 to about 15.degree. C. Permeate flow rate may be about 10 l/m.sup.2 /h to about 35 l/m.sup.2 /h, and permeate conductivity may be less than about 10 mS/cm. The permeate may be recycled until peptide concentration is constant. A cell-free fermentation medium containing hirudin from a recombinant microorganism such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae is ultrafiltered with a membrane having a molecular weight cut-off of about 20 kD to about 30 kD.

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Bad Soden, Germany

Jorg Moller