Concentration of foot-and-mouth disease virus by ultrafiltration

Stirred cell, flat sheet and spiral configurations were used to concentrate foot-and-mouth disease virus fermentation broth. The initial screening was carried out in a stirred cell using 50–300 k MWCO ultrafiltration membranes made of different polymers. Acrylate membrane showed highest recovery. No significant effect of MWCO and polymer material was observed on operating fluxes. Flat sheet configuration studies indicated as the CFR increases the recovery increased. No significant change was observed in operating fluxes over seven successive concentration and cleaning cycles. 97% recovery was obtained with the spiral module. Negligible effect on operating fluxes was observed over six successive cycles. A ∼30% saving in process time was observed in comparison with the conventional sedimentation process.