Process technology for biological product manufacturing and downstream purification

A free-flow electrophoresis apparatus for separating a mixture into two or more fractions, at least one fraction containing a biological product, comprising:

• at least one inlet and at least one outlet configured to permit continuous fluid flow between the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet;
• at least one fluidic channel created between two parallel plates and configured to create an electric field gradient orthogonal to the direction of fluid flow;
• electrode channels comprising an anodic electrode channel and a cathodic electrode channel, wherein the electrode channels are configured to be connected to the main separation channel by liquid contact through a wall gap positioned between the electrode channels and the main separation channel;
• at least one electrode channel de-bubbler comprising at least one gas permeable and hydrophobic membrane or porous material configured to remove electrolysis bubbles near the point of generation by a vacuum system to create a bubble-free main separation channel;
• at least one liquid circuit breaker configured to disconnect a liquid connected to voltage prior to interacting with at least one sensor or detector;
• an active cooling system;
• and
• at least one collection vessel.