Bioproducts, purification scheme

A general scheme of the recovery and purification process for a bioproduct is shown in Figure 12.1. Despite the lack of a universal strategy, some general directions (listed below) should be followed when establishing the purification protocol ... 

General scheme of a bioproduct recovery and purification process. The dotted arrows indicate integrated processes (see Section 12.4.6). 

Membranes are particularly suited for bioprocesses involving the cultivation of microorganisms or cells as biocatalysts, in which the product of interest is produced extracellularly. Such processes are becoming increasingly attractive when compared to those in which the products accumulate intracellularly. Some of the reasons for this include the use of novel expression systems which favor higher product concentrations, and the ease of purification as compared to an intracellular bioproduct route. One of the drawbacks remains that extracellular protein products are produced in dilute concentration. Extracellular-product based-processes require cell separation, product recovery and concentration. The use of ultrafiltration and microfiltration membranes has become a method of choice in such process schemes. 

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