Zaiput Flow Technologies is extending their line of high-end liquid-liquid separators with a production scale (40 L/min) separator, targeting challenging batch and flow-based separations.
Liquid-liquid extractions and separations can take long periods of time and more importantly, they often occupy chemical and pharmaceutical manufacturers most valuable asset: their reactors. While slow mixing or settling is taking place, the manufacturing organizations can’t leverage these assets to produce more material or move to their next reactive step.
Zaiput Flow Technologies has solved this problem with its new high throughput membrane phase separator. The technology, which relies on principles demonstrated in Zaiput’s smaller scale separators, uses two membranes to effectuate separation – one hydrophobic and one hydrophilic. Positioned on either side of a separation chamber, the hydrophobic membrane allows selective permeation of organics while the hydrophilic membrane allows selective permeation of aqueous (or polar organic) streams. This double membrane approach allows for completely clean phase cuts down to the miscibility limit of the two phases.
The Separator is paired with in-line mass transfer to enable a complete extraction outside of a reactor. In this setup, the aqueous wash and solvent phase are pumped to a tee, which is followed by in-line static mixing. Through a model these static mixers can easily be sized to meet various applications, guaranteeing users complete mass transfer, meaning reduced product loss and higher product purities.
With this in line mixing approach, manufacturers can now use reactors to their full capacity, doubling the output of their reactor, simply by using the previously empty space.
Built for safety and ease of use, the platform was designed with plant operators in mind. Sturdy membrane cartridges within an easily accessible layout make maintenance straightforward and repeatable while cleaning to GMP standards can be carried out with a simple CIP procedure.
The separation technology has a small footprint and is intended to be portable, allowing users to wheel it throughout their manufacturing plant, giving them a versatile tool to quickly separate 500-15,000 liter reactors in very short periods of time. If you’re wondering how extractions and phase separations will be carried out in the future, look no further, high end membrane separation technologies are here to stay.
Visit us at Achema Hall 9.1 Booth E64
