Downstream Processing for Bio-product Recovery and Purification

The recovery and purification of various bio-products or biomolecules, notably therapeutics, from sustainable materials, e.g., plant or animal tissue or fermentation broth, together with the repurposing of recoverable materials and the appropriate handling and removal of trash, is referred to as the downstream processing. The downstream concentration and purification program is an important aspect of the manufacturing process that adds significantly to the overall costs. The downstream processing is a multistep process that results in the purified target biomolecule by undergoing several physical and chemical processes and making it separate from other contaminants and impurities present, as the target bio-product is initially trapped in a biological matrix with other non-essential molecules. For the purification and recovery of different biomolecules, several techniques such as chromatography, crystallization, and membrane technology that include filtration (ultrafiltration, microfiltration, and nanofiltration), distillation, and reverse osmosis are available. Ultrafiltration, in particular, has been extensively researched in the industry of pharmaceuticals for downstream processing. Furthermore, the downstream processing of biological products necessitates the employment of specialized unit processes to recover from a complex concoction of molecules, contaminants, and impurities. Each unit operation results in a physical change that affects the concentration and/or purity of the product. Generally, a series of unit operations are needed to affect the product specifications. The prime objective of downstream processing is to efficiently and carefully recuperate the target product with all necessary requirements while also improving recovery yield at the least expensive price. This chapter gives an overview of several unit procedures for recovering, extracting, and purifying pharmaceutical and industrial products.