Process for the preparation of pure meropenem trihydrate

A process for the preparation of meropenem trihydrate, wherein the process comprises:

• a) heating crude meropenem to a temperature of 40° C. or above in water to obtain a solution;
• b) cooling the solution obtained in step a) to a temperature of 30° C. or below;
• c) treating the solution or partial solution obtained in step b) with a water-miscible organic solvent;
• and
• d) isolating meropenem trihydrate from the mixture thereof,
• wherein steps a) and b) are carried out in a continuous mode reactor with a residence time of 5 minutes or less.