Design of a small-scale continuous linear motion pharmaceutical filtration module

Abstract

A new small-scale continuous linear motion pharmaceutical filtration prototype was designed, fabricated, and tested. The goal of this unit is to filter an Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) from a mixture of API molecules, ethyl acetate, and possible contaminants. This unit is important in the development of a small-scale continuous pharmaceutical manufacturing process by Novartis, which would lower costs and increase product flexibility and production. A compliant blade is mounted onto a linear guide assembly and driven by a stepper motor to filter the API mixture through a porous metal filter. The mixture enters into the middle of the filtration unit; the excess ethyl acetate and dissolved contaminants are pulled through the filter by a vacuum pump, leaving the desired API molecules on the filter surface. The API is then moved across the filter by the blade to output collectors at either end. The unit itself takes up 0.03 cubic meters, an eighth of the size of the current equivalent production model. This unit has been tested to successfully filter the API from the rest of the mixture and will help determine if a rotary or linear style filtration system should be used as the final design.