Apparatus for purifying a liquid comprising a target substance
AssigneeFujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies UK Limited
InventorsTibor Nagy, Jonathan Haigh, Charles Heise, Andrew Topping, James Pullen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for purifying a liquid comprising a target substance comprising at least two units arranged in series such that the feed stream of the second and any subsequent units comprises the product stream from a downstream unit, wherein each unit comprises specified components (i) to (vi), including a a switchable bypass assembly. Also claimed are the units and a flowpath assembly. The units may be essentially the same except for a device they contain, leading to advantages in terms of simplicity, cost and ease of operation, lower risk of operator error, easier maintenance and lower inventory of spare parts.
Claims24
An apparatus for converting a liquid feedstock comprising a target substance and impurities into a product stream containing purified target substance and one or more waste streams comprising at least some of the impurities, the apparatus comprising at least two processing units arranged in series such that the feed stream of the second and any subsequent unit comprises the product stream from a downstream unit, wherein each processing unit comprises the following components (i) to (vi):
- (i) an inlet for the liquid feedstock;
- (ii) a multiple inlet flow-controller comprising two or more variable flow inlet valves for providing at least two liquids in a desired ratio;
- (iii) a mixing means for combining the liquid feedstock with the at least two liquids to produce a device feed;
- (iv) a device for performing a processing operation which separates at least some of the impurities from the target substance;
- (v) a means for imparting the flow of the liquid feedstock and the at least two liquids through the unit;
- and
- (vi) a switchable bypass assembly for causing the liquid feedstock and the at least two liquids passing through the unit to either flow into the mixing means or bypass the mixing means,
- wherein each unit comprises only one means comprising a single pump located downstream of a fluid connection between the inlet and an outlet from the multiple inlet flow-controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.