System and method for buoyant particle processing

A method for processing a set of buoyant particles, the method comprising:

• at a reaction vessel, receiving:
• a wash buffer;
• a set of processing materials;
• and
• the set of buoyant particles, wherein the set of buoyant particles comprises a set of hollow microspheres having a density less than a density of the wash buffer;
• with a stirring subsystem comprising a stir rod and an impeller, wherein the impeller is arranged within the reaction vessel, stirring the wash buffer, the set of processing materials, and the set of buoyant particles, wherein the stirring subsystem is configured to facilitate bonding of the set of processing materials with the set of buoyant particles, thereby forming a set of bound buoyant particles;
• with a tangential flow filter, wherein the tangential flow filter comprises a set of hollow fibers, each of the set of hollow fibers having an inner diameter larger than a diameter of the set of buoyant particles:
• receiving, at an inlet of the tangential flow filter, the set of bound buoyant particles from the reaction vessel, wherein the inlet is arranged at a first height;
• with a pump, passing the set of bound buoyant particles through an outlet of the tangential flow filter, the outlet arranged at a second height, wherein the second height is arranged superior to the first height, and wherein each of the set of hollow fibers is tilted relative to vertical with a nonzero tilt angle such that the set of bound buoyant particles is directed toward the outlet during a passage through the tangential flow filter;
• and
• receiving the set of bound buoyant particles at the reaction vessel.