Clarification of transgenic milk using depth filtration
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Publication Number
US-7531632-B2
Publication Date
2009-05-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
Processes and apparati are provided for separating molecules of interest from a mixture by depth filtration (DF). The DF of the invention is useful in the clarification and processing of various feedstreams for the removal of a molecule of interest. According to a preferred embodiment, a transgenic milk feedstream is stabilized and particulate matter such as fat, casein miscelles and bacteria are removed. An aseptic filtration step was also developed to remove any bacteria remaining in a clarified transgenic milk feedstream.
Core Innovation
The invention concerns a method for separating a protein of interest from a feedstream by filtering the feedstream using a depth filtration process that separates the protein of interest on the basis of particulate size. The feedstream containing the protein of interest is milk from a transgenic mammal, and the approach is directed to clarifying and fractionating transgenic mammal milk so that particulate components are retained by the depth filtration process while the protein of interest passes.
Milk casein micelles are aggregated by dilution with an ammonium sulfate solution, and the feedstream and the ammonium sulfate solution are blended prior to filtration. The blending is performed by an in line static mixer in fluid communication with a filtration element of the depth filtration process, so the conditioned milk is provided to the depth filtration element after in-line mixing.
The documented description further relates the depth filtration step to downstream compatibility, including subsequent fractionation options such as chromatography and size exclusion chromatography, while distinguishing depth filtration from tangential flow filtration in rationale and operational characteristics.
Claims Coverage
One independent claim is provided. The claim coverage centers on a particulate-size-based depth filtration separation of a protein from transgenic mammal milk, enabled by ammonium sulfate dilution of casein micelles and in-line static mixing before the depth filtration element.
Particulate size-based depth filtration of transgenic milk
Filtering said feedstream by a depth filtration process that separates a protein of interest from said feedstream on the basis of particulate size, wherein said feedstream containing the protein of interest is composed of milk from a transgenic mammal.
Ammonium sulfate dilution to aggregate casein micelles
Milk casein micelles are aggregated by dilution with an ammonium sulfate solution.
In-line static mixer blending prior to depth filtration
The feedstream and the ammonium sulfate solution are blended prior to filtration by an in line static mixer in fluid communication with a filtration element of said depth filtration process.
The inventive concept is the use of particulate-size-based depth filtration for transgenic milk, enabled by ammonium-sulfate-induced aggregation of milk casein micelles and in-line static mixing to condition the feedstream before filtration.
Stated Advantages
The approach clarifies and fractionates transgenic mammal milk so that particulate components are retained by the depth filtration process while the protein of interest passes.
The depth filtration step is related to downstream compatibility, including subsequent fractionation options such as chromatography and size exclusion chromatography.
The patent distinguishes depth filtration from tangential flow filtration in rationale and operational characteristics.
Documented Applications
Separation of a protein of interest from milk from a transgenic mammal.
Clarifying and fractionating transgenic mammal milk.
Subsequent fractionation options such as chromatography and size exclusion chromatography.
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