Industry sector: Biotechnology
Company activity: Production of natural active ingredients for dietary supplements and cosmetic products
Company type: SME
Company founded: 2000s
Contacts: Production unit manager – Quality, Health, Safety and Environment director
Company context
This company develops, produces and markets natural active ingredients derived from microalgae. It selects high-value strains and applies controlled industrial-scale cultivation processes, then extracts useful active compounds in a standardised manner — in liquid or solid form — using a patented, environmentally friendly process. These compounds are then used to produce ready-to-use ingredients destined for incorporation into dietary supplements or cosmetic products.
Filtration challenge
The company uses filtration systems for active molecule extraction. The performance of the existing filtration devices was technically satisfactory, but the company was looking to reduce operating costs and to gain a clearer understanding of the filtration challenges within its processes, with the goal of improving the existing systems.
Pemflow filtration solution
We first supplied products that were technically equivalent to those used on the company’s production lines, namely 0.2 µm absolute 10″ filters and 0.2 µm absolute 20″ filters.
We were then entrusted with supplying all the filters used for water treatment on the site, including:
- Prefilters (5 µm, 1 µm, 0.5 µm and 0.2 µm) installed upstream of the reverse osmosis unit
- 20″ activated carbon filters (see the related article on the use of activated carbon filters in API production)
- Terminal sterilising filters positioned upstream of the reactors
Significant savings were achieved through the supplier change we recommended. The company now also benefits from daily technical support, which is highly appreciated.
Pemflow is also working to optimise the existing filtration equipment, particularly in terms of sizing and filtration threshold selection. As part of this effort, integrity tests are being performed on the 0.2 µm terminal filters placed upstream of the reactors.
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