Abstract: The present invention relates to a diatomaceous earth composition with a low endotoxin content, comprising an agglomerated mixture of calcined diatomaceous earth particles and water, wherein the mass ratio of calcined diatomaceous earth particles and water is in the range of 1:1.0 to 1:2.0, and wherein the endotoxin content of the diatomaceous earth composition is equal to or less than 0.5 EU/mL. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for producing the diatomaceous earth composition with a low endotoxin content. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the diatomaceous earth composition with a low endotoxin content as a precoat agent for the precoat filtration in biopharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: A device (1) and method for media filtration with a preparation container (2). A chamber (5) containing a dissolvable medium (29) is situated between the container inflow and outflow, and has a filter (22). A mixing arm (6, 7), connected to the inflow, protrudes into the medium in the chamber with at least one mixing nozzle (19, 20), disposed at the free end (17, 18) of the mixing arm for generating a directed jet of solvent. The preparation container has bottom (10) and top (8) parts bracketing the chamber. The filter is a sterile, has on the filtrate side facing the outflow, a circumferential outer edge (23) resting on a circumferential rest edge (37) of the bottom part of the preparation container and is connected fixedly thereto. A sterilised filtrate space (39) is formed between the filtrate side (38) of the filter and the outflow situated in the bottom part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved diatomaceous earth composition containing salt water. The diatomaceous earth composition according to the present invention comprises an agglomerated mixture of calcined diatomaceous earth particles, water and at least one inorganic salt, wherein the mass ratio of the calcined diatomaceous earth particles and water is in the range of 1:1.0 to 1:2.0, and wherein the content of the at least one inorganic salt is equal to or more than 0.25 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of water. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for producing the diatomaceous earth composition according to the present invention. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the diatomaceous earth composition according to the present invention as an agent for precoat filtration or dynamic body feed filtration in biopharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: A method of vacuum membrane filtration including placing a membrane filter between a filtration base and a pouring funnel, an upper side of the filtration base having a membrane bearing area with a bearing structure and a supporting contour surrounding the bearing structure and the supporting contour having at least one notch in flow connection with a bottom side of the membrane bearing area, detachably mounting the pouring funnel on the filtration base thereby clamping the membrane filter between the filtration base and the pouring funnel, applying suction to the filtration base such that the membrane filter is pulled against the bearing structure and comes into contact with the supporting contour, and dismounting the pouring funnel from the filtration base while still applying the suction, causing an outer rim of the membrane filter to bulge upward from the supporting contour and uncover the at least one notch.

Abstract: A filtering system (10) includes a filtering apparatus having a filter unit for receiving liquid to be filtered, a receptacle for receiving filtered liquid, and an adapter (14) for coupling the filter unit to the receptacle, and also includes a base (12) having a cradle (26) for receiving the filtering apparatus and a base vacuum delivery port (28). The adapter includes an adapter vacuum receiving port (22) coupled to the vacuum delivery port for driving the liquid through the filter and—as filtered liquid—into the receptacle. The cradle and the adapter have an interlocking mechanism (52, 54) that locks the filtering apparatus to the cradle in a locking position in which the vacuum receiving port is sealingly coupled to the base vacuum delivery port. The base vacuum delivery port has a vacuum valve (30) constituted as a normally-closed valve automatically forced open when the filtering apparatus locks to the cradle.

Abstract: A filtering system (10) includes a filtering apparatus having a filter unit for receiving liquid to be filtered, a receptacle for receiving filtered liquid, and an adapter (14) for coupling the filter unit to the receptacle, and also includes a base (12) having a cradle (26) for receiving the filtering apparatus and a base vacuum delivery port (28). The adapter includes an adapter vacuum receiving port (22) coupled to the vacuum delivery port for driving the liquid through the filter and—as filtered liquid—into the receptacle. The cradle and the adapter have an interlocking mechanism (52, 54) that locks the filtering apparatus to the cradle in a locking position in which the vacuum receiving port is sealingly coupled to the base vacuum delivery port. The base vacuum delivery port has a vacuum valve (30) constituted as a normally-closed valve automatically forced open when the filtering apparatus locks to the cradle.

Abstract: A method of vacuum membrane filtration including placing a membrane filter between a filtration base and a pouring funnel, an upper side of the filtration base having a membrane bearing area with a bearing structure and a supporting contour surrounding the bearing structure and the supporting contour having at least one notch in flow connection with a bottom side of the membrane bearing area, detachably mounting the pouring funnel on the filtration base thereby clamping the membrane filter between the filtration base and the pouring funnel, applying suction to the filtration base such that the membrane filter is pulled against the bearing structure and comes into contact with the supporting contour, and dismounting the pouring funnel from the filtration base while still applying the suction, causing an outer rim of the membrane filter to bulge upward from the supporting contour and uncover the at least one notch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a filtration unit with a filtration membrane, nutritive cardboard disc and, if necessary, a support structure, wherein the nutritive cardboard disc and/or the support structure comprises a solid, water-soluble nutrient medium and a water-soluble and/or water-swellable polymer, a method for producing the filtration unit, a method for detecting microorganisms in a fluid, wherein the filtration unit is used, and the use of the filtration unit for detecting microorganisms in a fluid.

Abstract: A filter module (10) has a housing (12) which is subdivided by a membrane filter (14) into an inlet chamber (16), which is connected to an inlet connecting piece (22) arranged rigidly on the housing (12), and an outlet chamber (18), which has a filtrate outlet (20). The inlet connecting piece has two connectors, specifically a first connector (26) and a second connector (28), which connect selectively and fluidically to the inlet chamber with a 3-way valve (24) integrated into the inlet connecting piece. The valve has a first entry, which is connected to the first connector, a second entry, which is connected to the second connector, and an exit, which is connected to the inlet chamber. The first connector is configured as an adapter for outwardly sealed coupling of a culture medium bottle (30), which coupling permits a gravity-driven exchange of liquid with the first entry of the valve.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved diatomaceous earth composition containing salt water. The diatomaceous earth composition according to the present invention comprises an agglomerated mixture of calcined diatomaceous earth particles, water and at least one inorganic salt, wherein the mass ratio of the calcined diatomaceous earth particles and water is in the range of 1:1.0 to 1:2.0, and wherein the content of the at least one inorganic salt is equal to or more than 0.25 parts by mass based on 100 parts by mass of water. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for producing the diatomaceous earth composition according to the present invention. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the diatomaceous earth composition according to the present invention as an agent for precoat filtration or dynamic body feed filtration in biopharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: A connection mechanism for a suction device for vacuum membrane filtration applications, includes a support for receiving a membrane filter or a filtration base, a cavity formed below the membrane filter or the filtration base, a suction duct which opens centrally into the cavity, and a ventilation duct which opens laterally into the cavity. The connection mechanism further includes a closing element which can be moved into several switching positions and which can block or unblock both the suction duct and the ventilation duct depending on the switching positions.

Abstract: A filtration base for vacuum membrane filtration applications comprises a membrane bearing area on the upper side of the filtration base, which has a bearing structure and a supporting contour surrounding the bearing structure for a membrane filter placed in the membrane bearing area. The supporting contour has at least one notch which is in flow connection with the bottom side of the membrane bearing area and which is arranged such that it is adapted to be selectively covered by a membrane filter placed in the membrane bearing area.

Abstract: A filtering system (10) includes a filtering apparatus having a filter unit for receiving liquid to be filtered, a receptacle for receiving filtered liquid, and an adapter (14) for coupling the filter unit to the receptacle, and also includes a base (12) having a cradle (26) for receiving the filtering apparatus and a base vacuum delivery port (28). The adapter includes an adapter vacuum receiving port (22) coupled to the vacuum delivery port for driving the liquid through the filter and—as filtered liquid—into the receptacle. The cradle and the adapter have an interlocking mechanism (52, 54) that locks the filtering apparatus to the cradle in a locking position in which the vacuum receiving port is sealingly coupled to the base vacuum delivery port. The base vacuum delivery port has a vacuum valve (30) constituted as a normally-closed valve automatically forced open when the filtering apparatus locks to the cradle.

Abstract: A device (1) and method for media filtration with a preparation container (2). A chamber (5) containing a dissolvable medium (29) is situated between the container inflow and outflow, and has a filter (22). A mixing arm (6, 7), connected to the inflow, protrudes into the medium in the chamber with at least one mixing nozzle (19, 20), disposed at the free end (17, 18) of the mixing arm for generating a directed jet of solvent. The preparation container has bottom (10) and top (8) parts bracketing the chamber. The filter is a sterile, has on the filtrate side facing the outflow, a circumferential outer edge (23) resting on a circumferential rest edge (37) of the bottom part of the preparation container and is connected fixedly thereto. A sterilised filtrate space (39) is formed between the filtrate side (38) of the filter and the outflow situated in the bottom part.

Abstract: A connection mechanism for a suction device for vacuum membrane filtration applications, includes a support for receiving a membrane filter or a filtration base, a cavity formed below the membrane filter or the filtration base, a suction duct which opens centrally into the cavity, and a ventilation duct which opens laterally into the cavity. The connection mechanism further includes a closing element which can be moved into several switching positions and which can block or unblock both the suction duct and the ventilation duct depending on the switching positions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a diatomaceous earth composition with a low endotoxin content, comprising an agglomerated mixture of calcined diatomaceous earth particles and water, wherein the mass ratio of calcined diatomaceous earth particles and water is in the range of 1:1.0 to 1:2.0, and wherein the endotoxin content of the diatomaceous earth composition is equal to or less than 0.5 EU/mL. In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for producing the diatomaceous earth composition with a low endotoxin content. In another aspect, the present invention relates to the use of the diatomaceous earth composition with a low endotoxin content as a precoat agent for the precoat filtration in biopharmaceutical applications.

Abstract: A filter module (10) has a housing (12) which is subdivided by a membrane filter (14) into an inlet chamber (16), which is connected to an inlet connecting piece (22) arranged rigidly on the housing (12), and an outlet chamber (18), which has a filtrate outlet (20). The inlet connecting piece has two connectors, specifically a first connector (26) and a second connector (28), which connect selectively and fluidically to the inlet chamber with a 3-way valve (24) integrated into the inlet connecting piece. The valve has a first entry, which is connected to the first connector, a second entry, which is connected to the second connector, and an exit, which is connected to the inlet chamber. The first connector is configured as an adapter for outwardly sealed coupling of a culture medium bottle (30), which coupling permits a gravity-driven exchange of liquid with the first entry of the valve.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for analyzing a contaminated surface has a transfer device (2) with a mount (3) and a porous disk-shaped medium (5) having a contact side (6) arrangeable on the contaminated surface. The mount (3) is bindable to the medium on its side (8) facing away from the contact side (6) via a first fixing edge (7a). An analytical device (11) is bindable to the medium (5) on its contact side (6) via a second fixing edge (7b) to remove the medium (5) from the mount (3). The first fixing edge (7a) is bindable to the medium (5) via a first adhesive bond and the second fixing edge (7b) is bindable to the medium (5) via a second adhesive bond. The first adhesive bond is breakable by a lower application of force than the second adhesive bond.

Abstract: A device for purifying protein from a protein-containing fluid includes a prefilter unit, which has at least one size exclusion filter, a membrane adsorber unit, which has at least one porous membrane with functional constituents which adsorb the protein to be purified, and a collecting container. The collecting container, the membrane adsorber unit and the prefilter unit are configured such that the collecting container is suitable for receiving the membrane adsorber unit; and the membrane adsorber unit is suitable for receiving the prefilter unit. An associated method for purifying protein from a protein-containing fluid using the device is also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nutrient medium unit for holding a filter of a filtration device, comprising a lower part that is filled with the nutrient medium and a lid, the latter having a fixing edge that protrudes into the lower part and that can be connected to an edge of the filter by means of an adhesive bond in order to remove said filter from the filtration device. The invention also relates to a method for the microbiological analysis of liquid samples, according to which a membrane filter is lifted off a filter support and laid on the surface of a nutrient medium that is situated in a lower part of a nutrient medium unit. The lower part is then covered by a lid, the latter being placed on the membrane filter lying on the filter support in such a way that a fixing edge located in the lid is connected to an edge of the filter by means of an adhesive bond. The lid and the attached filter are lifted off the filter support and placed on the dish-shaped lower part of the nutrient medium unit.