Biopharma cell centrifuge for gentle protein recovery

Ensure gentle cell harvesting and enhanced yield in bioprocessing with state-of-the-art centrifugation, preserving the integrity of shear-sensitive proteins.

Gently Separates and Purifies Cell Cultures

The Culturefuge series from Alfa Laval offers hermetic cell centrifuges designed for gentle separation and purification of sensitive biological materials. These centrifuges feature a unique hollow spindle concept, minimizing cell lysis and maintaining the integrity of valuable proteins and antibodies across various operations. Ideal for applications in biopharmaceuticals and bioprocessing, they handle capacities from pilot-scale to large-scale production, accommodating up to 20,000 liters per hour.

Operating under fully hermetic conditions, the Culturefuge series prevents air entrainment and integrates seamlessly into production lines, with PLC control for automated processing, remote monitoring, and scalability. Engineered with materials that meet strict regulatory requirements, each unit supports CIP/SIP systems for effective cleaning and hygiene, essential in maintaining GMP and FDA compliance.

These centrifuges are available with customization options, including superfine electro-polished surfaces and steam-sterilizable components, ensuring compatibility with specific processing needs. Alfa Laval offers engineering support, ensuring these separators can be tailored to meet diverse processing challenges efficiently.

Benefits

  • Enhances yield and purity with gentle cell handling, preserving valuable proteins.
  • Scales efficiently from pilot to full-scale production, supporting business growth.
  • Maintains sterility and hygiene with CIP/SIP systems, ensuring regulatory compliance.
  • Prevents air entrainment, improving downstream processing and reducing contamination risk.
  • Offers flexible integration and control, lowering operational costs and increasing process efficiency.

General


Applications
Microbial cells,Fine chemicals,Mammalian cell cultures,Nutraceuticals,Biopharmaceuticals,Precipitated proteins
End products
Insulin,Enzyme preparations,Recombinant therapeutic proteins,Monoclonal antibodies,Probiotic supplements,Biologically derived fine chemicals,Protein supplements,Tissue culture media,Growth factors,Vaccine components
Steps before
Cell Culture Fermentation,Microbial Cell Cultivation,Protein Precipitation
Steps after
Downstream Purification,Sterilization,Cleaning-In-Place (CIP),Filtration,Validation Support Services
Input ingredients
mammalian cell cultures,microbial cells,precipitated proteins,shear-sensitive biological material
Output ingredients
target proteins,separated liquid phase,collected solids,enhanced protein recovery
Market info
Alfa Laval is renowned for its expertise in heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling technologies, providing innovative, energy-efficient engineered-to-order solutions for various industries including food, marine, and energy.

Technical Specifications


Capacity
200 – 20,000 L/hr
Speed
Variable depending on model size
Automation
PLC-controlled
Cleaning Method
CIP / SIP
Hermetic Operation
Fully hermetic
Feed Type
Bottom-fed
Feed Acceleration
Gentle using hollow spindle
Discharge Method
Intermittent solids ejection
Compliance
ASME / PED
Material Compatibility
Regulatory compliant
Surface Finish
Superfine electro-polished
Skid-mounted Options
Available
Pneumatic Unit
Integrated
Electrical System
Integrated with PLC
Pumping Method
Steam-sterilizable pump

Operating Characteristics


Batch vs. continuous operation
Batch / Inline Continuous / Continuous
Automation level
PLC-controlled / Fully Automatic
CIP/SIP
CIP 121°C / SIP 135°C
Cleaning method
SIP / CIP
Energy efficiency
Optimized for Low Energy Consumption
Air incorporation control
Hermetic Design

Material Compatibility


Biological compatibility
Shear-sensitive biological material
Cleanability
CIP/SIP systems
Corrosive resistance (e.g. acids)
Materials meeting regulatory requirements

Physical Characteristics


Compact footprint
Skid-mounted
Discharge method
Intermittent solids discharge
Control panel type
Integrated PLC system
Design option
Superfine electro-polished surface
Feed/discharge method
Bottom-fed,gentle acceleration
Shape
Disk-stack separator
Material
Meets pressure vessel specifications

Custom Options


Control panel type
Integrated PLC
Discharge method
Intermittent solids discharge
Compact footprint
Skid-mounted design
Surface finish
Superfine electro-polished
Pump type
Steam-sterilizable
Feed inlet type
Hollow spindle