Ceramic Membrane Housing in Pharmaceuticals and Contaminants

Membrane separation technology is not uncommon in the pharmaceutical field, offering advantages such as easy operation, energy efficiency, and no new environmental pollution. It is particularly essential in processes like the separation and recovery of protoplasts, enzymes, and microorganisms, as well as the clarification of fermentation liquids.

Three Major Applications of Ceramic Membrane Housing in the Pharmaceutical Industry

Filtration of Biological Fermentation Liquids

Pharmaceutical fermentation liquids have unique characteristics, primarily high mycelium concentration and viscosity. In addition, most fermentation products are unstable and can denature and become inactive under high temperatures, acidic or alkaline conditions, and special solvents, making subsequent extraction and purification difficult and affecting product quality. Using ceramic membrane housings can effectively remove large molecules from fermentation liquids, such as mycelium, metabolites, and bacterial fragments. The advantages include high separation precision, high clarity, transparent filtrate, and the ability to prevent product denaturation and inactivation. This results in clarified or even sterilized filtrate. After continuous cleaning, the residue retains only a relatively low concentration, theoretically yielding a higher extraction rate compared to plate-frame filtration.

Concentration and Refining of Target Products

Ceramic membrane housing technology is used to process crude feed liquids. Low molecular substances, such as salts, can be removed along with water through the membrane, allowing the target product to be concentrated and refined. Replacing methods like vacuum evaporation with ceramic membrane housings prevents product inactivation, saves energy, significantly improves the efficiency of subsequent refining processes, shortens the process cycle, and enhances product quality and yield.

Separation and Extraction of Enzymes

Traditional separation and extraction methods, such as centrifugation, precipitation, dialysis concentration, and desalting, result in enzyme solutions with low enzyme activity, requiring further concentration. These methods are associated with issues like multiple steps, high energy consumption, easy inactivation, and low recovery rates. Ceramic membrane housings can simplify the extraction, purification, and desalting process of enzymes, offering advantages like simple equipment, easy operation, high efficiency, and energy savings. They can separate high concentrations of bacteria in a short time without losing enzyme activity.

Compared to organic membrane housings, inorganic ceramic membrane housings offer better thermal and chemical stability, a wider pH range, superior mechanical properties, longer service life, and easy cleaning. These advantages make them particularly suitable for applications where organic membranes are not viable.

Factors Affecting Contamination of Ceramic Membrane Housing

Ceramic membrane housing itself is an efficient separation and environmental protection technology with inherent advantages in removing particles, organic matter, and microorganisms. However, once the membrane housing is in use, it may experience contamination.

Temperature

Temperature is a relatively complex influencing factor. When temperature increases, the solubility of some components in the feed liquid decreases, enhancing adsorption of contaminants. As temperature rises, the diffusion coefficient of solutes increases, which reduces membrane surface contamination caused by concentration polarization.

Solution pH and Ionic Strength

Changes in pH affect the properties of the membrane, thus influencing the adsorption capacity of ceramic membrane housings. Changes in ionic strength can alter the conformation and dispersion of proteins, affecting their adsorption. The adsorption capacity of membrane components can impact membrane flux, helping to determine whether membrane fouling has occurred.

Feed Liquid Flow Rate

Increasing the feed liquid flow rate increases turbulence at the membrane surface, which reduces concentration polarization and inhibits the deposition of solutes on the membrane surface. Conversely, decreasing the flow rate has the opposite effect.

Membrane Structure and Surface

Symmetrical structures in ceramic membrane housings are more prone to blockage, leading to membrane fouling compared to asymmetrical structures. If the membrane surface is rough, it is more likely to adsorb solutes, resulting in contamination. The above analysis outlines the factors contributing to membrane fouling in ceramic membrane housings. Ceramic membranes offer advantages such as room temperature operation, high separation efficiency, easy operation, and effective removal of impurities and bacterial endotoxins. They not only reduce environmental pollution but also improve the rational use of water resources, helping production companies generate better profits.