Process for drying protein crystals

US6408536B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Aventis Pharma Deutschland GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Rolf Deusser · Pocking, DE
• Peter Kraemer · Hanau, DE
• Horst Thurow · Kelkheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 13, 2000
• Grant date: Jun 25, 2002
• Expiry date: Jan 13, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C30B33/00
• WIPO field: Biotechnology
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for drying protein crystals starting from an aqueous protein crystal suspension, which comprises drying the protein crystal suspension in a centrifugal dryer, where the protein crystals, after they have been filtered off from the protein crystal suspension, are brought into contact with a drying medium which consists of a mixture of water and a nonaqueous solvent which is miscible with water in any ratio and which has a lower vapor pressure than water. In the process, a drying gas which has been moistened with water is advantageously used. The protein crystal suspension is advantageously converted into a fluidized bed for the purpose of drying.