초록 ▼

A composite membrane and process utilizing the membrane which is capable of selectively removing particles such as viral particles from a solution such as a protein solution is provided. The membrane comprises a porous membrane substrate, a surface skin having ultrafiltration separation properties a

A composite membrane and process utilizing the membrane which is capable of selectively removing particles such as viral particles from a solution such as a protein solution is provided. The membrane comprises a porous membrane substrate, a surface skin having ultrafiltration separation properties and an intermediate porous zone between the substrate and the skin which intermediate zone has an average pore size smaller than that of the substrate. The intermediate zone is free of voids which break the skin and which directly fluid communicate with the substrate. The composite is capable of a log reduction value of at least 3 (99.9% removal) of particles selectively from solution.

대표청구항 ▼

A composite asymmetric membrane designed for selectively separating particles having a size within a size range characteristic of the size of virus particles from a solution containing said particles which comprises a substrate having pores of an average size between about 0.05 and 10 microns, a sur

A composite asymmetric membrane designed for selectively separating particles having a size within a size range characteristic of the size of virus particles from a solution containing said particles which comprises a substrate having pores of an average size between about 0.05 and 10 microns, a surface skin and an intermediate porous zone being positioned between said substrate and said skin, said intermediate zone being porous and free of voids which extend from said skin to said membrane substrate, said composite membrane having a protein molecular weight cut-off of between about 5×102 and 5×106 Daltons and having properties for producing a log reduction value of at least about 3 and said log reduction value being a monotonically increasing function of particle diameter in the particle size range between about 10 and 100 nanometer diameter. A process comprising: selectively removing particles of a size between about 10 and 100 nanometers from a solution at a log reduction value of at least about 3 by, in a first filtration step, passing said solution in direct contact with the skin of the composite membrane designed for selectively separating particles having a size within a size range characteristic of the size of virus particles from a solution containing said particles which comprises a substrate having pores of an average size between about 0.05 and 10 microns, a surface skin and an intermediate porous zone being positioned between said substrate and said skin, said intermediate zone being porous and free of voids which extend from said skin to said membrane substrate, said composite membrane having a protein molecular weight cut-off of between about 5×102 and 5×106 Daltons and having properties for producing a log reduction value of at least about 3 and said log reduction value being a monotonically increasing function of particle diameter in the particle size range between about 10 and 100 manometer diameter retaining said particles by said skin sufficient to form a particle-rich solution while allowing solute in said solution substantially free of said particles to pass through said composite membrane sufficient for causing the log reduction value of particle removal is a monotonically increasing function of the diameter of said particles.