Automated tangential-flow diafiltration device

HardwareX, vol. 10, pp. e00200

Abstract

Tangential flow filtration (TFF) is a chemical unit operation used to purify and concentrate liquid suspensions of colloids, proteins, or cells. The solution flows tangentially across a membrane, such that a selective part of the fluid permeates the membrane while the filtrated matter is retained, increasing its concentration. TFF is a mild mechanical purification method that does not interact chemically with the filtrate. It is applied in sensitive separation tasks in protein chemistry, microbiology, or immunology. It is a fast alternative for dialysis applications, also applicable in the field of colloid purification. However, the costs of automated lab-scale devices (30,000 €) and the consumable membrane modules (100-600 €) make TFF currently hardly accessible for lab-scale polymer researchers. Therefore, we built a low-cost TFF system (2400 €) partly automated by an Arduino microcontroller and optimized for diafiltration buffer exchange and concentration processes in soft matter colloid research. We use medical hemodialysis membrane modules that only cost a share (20-50 €) of alternative TFF modules, and we demonstrate the functionality of the system for an exemplary colloidal microgel purification process.

Authors 5

1. Arne Lüken Aachen AVT.CVT.- Chair of Chemical Process Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, AVT.CVT - Chair of Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstraße. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   RWTH Aachen University, AVT.CVT – Chair of Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstraße. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany

2. Maike Bruckhaus Aachen AVT.CVT.- Chair of Chemical Process Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, AVT.CVT - Chair of Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstraße. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   RWTH Aachen University, AVT.CVT – Chair of Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstraße. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany

3. Udo Kosfeld Aachen AVT.BioVT - Chair of Biochemical Engineering

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   RWTH Aachen University, AVT.BioVT - Chair of Biochemical Engineering, Forckenbeckstraße. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   RWTH Aachen University, AVT.BioVT – Chair of Biochemical Engineering, Forckenbeckstraße. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany

4. Meike Emondts Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany

5. Matthias Weßling corresponding Aachen DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials AVT.CVT.- Chair of Chemical Process Engineering

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   DWI - Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   RWTH Aachen University, AVT.CVT - Chair of Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstraße. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials, Forckenbeckstr. 50, 52074 Aachen, Germany

   RWTH Aachen University, AVT.CVT – Chair of Chemical Process Engineering, Forckenbeckstraße. 51, 52074 Aachen, Germany