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Nomograph
A Quick Reference Tool to Estimate Filter Sizing
The V
max
technique has been widely used to successfully describe
many of the filtration processes in the biopharmaceutical industry.
This document provides a quick reference chart to estimate filter
sizing requirements given knowledge of typical performance
parameters for an application.
Contributions to filter sizing arise from both filter capacity
limitations (V
max
) and flow-time (J
i
, t
B
) considerations. Scale down
filtration studies using data on Volume vs. time, lead to the calcu-
lation of the sizing parameters V
max
and J
i
. These parameters,
along with the design requirements (V
B
and t
B
), allow us to
estimate filter sizing for a given application.
V
max
Equation 1
Frequently, we need to ball-park the area
requirements for a typical process step, or assess
the impact of process (V
max
, J
i
) or design (V
B
, t
B
)
parameters on filter sizing. The nomograph in
Figure 1 is a handy reference chart, with an ability
to rapidly estimate filter area requirements for
various capacity, flow, time combinations.
A
min
1 1
V
B
V
max
J
i
x t
B
Capacity Flow-time
= + (1)
Key to Equations
A filtration area (mm
2
)
V process volume (L)
V
max
maximum capacity (normalized) that can
be filtered at time infinity (L/m
2
)
J
i
initial volumetric (normalized) flow rate
(L/m
2
min.)
t
B
process time (min.)
A P P L I C A T I O N N O T E
The nomograph represents a family of constant
A
min
/V
B
curves, which cover the range typically
encountered in filtration applications. The X Y
axes for the nomograph are V
max
and J
i
t
B
respectively.
Application experience allow for a better
estimation of sizing parameters such as V
max
or J
i
;
once these parameters are chosen, an estimate of
Figure 1: A Nomograph
10 100 1000 10000 100000
0.10
0.050
0.025
0.015
0.010
0.0050
0.0015
0.00075
0.0005
0.00035
0.00025
0.00015
0.00010
0.000075
0.00005
A
min
/V
B
10
100
1000
10000
100000
V
max
(L/m
2
)
=
J
i
*
t
B
(
L
/
m
2
)
0.0006
0.0010
0.0025
0.0035
0.0075
0
.
1
0
0
.
0
5
0
0
.
0
2
5
0
.
0
1
0
0
.
0
0
5
0
0
.
0
0
1
5
0
.
0
0
0
7
5
0
.
0
0
0
5
0
.
0
0
0
3
5
0
.
0
0
0
2
5
0
.
0
0
0
1
5
0
.
0
0
0
1
0
0
.
0
0
0
0
7
5
0
.
0
0
0
0
5
0
.
0
0
0
0
3
5
0
.
0
0
0
6
0
.
0
0
1
0
0
.
0
0
2
5
0
.
0
0
3
5
0
.
0
0
7
5
0
.
0
1
5
=
in m
2
/L
0.000035
*Note: For Millistak+ applications, X-axis represents
the throughput estimated from Pmax analysis.
Process
Intermediates
Viresolve
NFP
Millistak+
*
Process Intermediates
Viresolve NFR
Process
Intermediates (0.2 m)
Buffer (0.2 m)
Media (0.1 m)
the specific area for the application ie: A
min
/V
Batch
may be determined from the nomograph.
Note: the areas designated A
min
is the minimum
area required to complete filtration at the base
conditions (time, volume, pressure) and does not
include safety factors to account for process
variability or process expansion.
Figure 2: Example of Nomograph Use
Let us take the ltration of preltered serum free media through Durapore
5
,
2
0
0
L
/
m
2
A
min
/V
B
= 0.00055 m
2
/L
Example: Serum Free Media
which translates into a 3 x 30-inch cartridge configuration.
Millipore, Durapore, Millipore Express, Millistak+, Polysep, Prostak, Viresolve, and V
max
are
registered trademarks of Millipore Corporation.
Lit. No. AN1200EN00 Rev. A 08/06 Printed in U.S.A. 06-329
2006 Millipore Corporation, Billerica, MA 01821 U.S.A. All rights reserved.
Final Final Filter J
i
,
Fluid Type Prefiltration Filtration Application V
max
, L/m
2
LMH/psi
Durapore 0.1 m Sterile and mycoplasma
PVDF filter (CVVL) reduction filtration 200 400 140 180
Double-layer Millipore Sterile and mycoplasma
Express
II 1.0 + 0.2+
0.1 m filter (CGW1)
Polysep II 1.0 + 0.2 +
0.1 m filter (CGW3)
Clarified
CHO
Cell Culture
Prostak
0.65 m MF
Cassette (SK2P)
or Centrifuge followed
by Millistak+
HC
(A1HC)
No Prefiltration
(Stream Dependent)
Process
Intermediates
Buffers
No
Prefiltration
To facilitate the use of the nomograph, it is useful to review key sizing
parameter ranges such as V
max
and J
i
for specific applications and
filters. Table 1 summarizes parameters for a number of commonly
encountered solutions: