Patent · US Expired

Continuous particle separation process

US5344576A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
8References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 25, 1993
Grant dateSep 6, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 25, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T436/25375
  • WIPO fieldBiotechnology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A continuous process for the separation of small particles from larger particles in a biological preparation passes a liquid stream of the preparation through a first filter or screen, which retains larger particles, passing smaller particles in the liquid. The large particles have retained on their surfaces wetting water, in which are entrained some of the small particles. The large particles are directed to a liquid having a concentration of smaller particles lower than the concentration of smaller particles in the wetting water, and mixed therein. The smaller particles separate from the larger particles in the mixed suspension, which is then directed to a second filter or screen, for further separation. The smaller particle/liquid stream may be recycled to the biological preparation stage, the liquid suspension for the large particles, or to a separator means where the smaller particles are separated off from the liquid stream. As the system is susceptible of being practiced as a continuous closed system, given an adequate liquid supply, the filtering steps may be repeated any number of times. When separated at the filters or screens, at least a portion of the stream of small pa…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.