The Importance of Filtration in Biopharma

Within the biopharmaceutical industry, water filtration plays a key role in regulatory compliance, process efficiency, and environmental responsibility. The treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater involves several stages, including pre-treatment, clarification, biomatter removal, and sterilization. While nanofiltration and ultrafiltration are often used in later stages to remove microbes and other host cell remains, effective pre-filtration is critical to optimizing the entire process.

At Spiral Water Technologies, Inc., we specialize in pre-treatment filtration solutions for biopharma water and wastewater, capable of removing high TSS, BOD, and COD at the beginning of the filtration process. Our advanced filtration technology reduces solids early on, thereby minimizing wear and tear on microfiltration (MF) and nanofiltration (NF) systems. Additionally, our filters are automatically self-cleaning, eliminating the need to manually remove TSS from the bottom of the filter. 

With increasing wastewater discharge service charges imposed by municipalities, compliance is more important than ever. Failure to comply with discharge limits can result in significant fines, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per violation per day. Spiral Water’s engineering team can analyze your discharge service charges and provide an ROI assessment, helping you evaluate cost savings from reduced TSS and BOD levels through our filtration solutions.

Spiral Water’s Filtration Systems

Spiral Water offers a selection of advanced automatic, self-cleaning filters designed to meet the unique needs of the biopharma industry. Our filters effectively address high solids filtration and separation challenges while reducing operational costs. 

Different types of filter membranes often suffer from contaminant buildup on or inside the membrane, which decreases efficiency. As a solution, our self-cleaning filters are used during pretreatment to prevent clogging and maintain reliable performance. Spiral Water’s self-cleaning technology continuously removes accumulated solids to reduce downtime and extend filter lifespan. 

Our key filtration solutions for the biopharma industry include:

  • Series 800 Model 850 Automatic Filter. Our most compact and efficient filter, ideal for lower-flow, low-temperature, and low-pressure applications. Constructed from stainless steel, this model can remove high TSS and reduce rated flow by up to 50%. 
  • Series 1000 Automatic Self-Cleaning Filters. Engineered for medium- to high-flow, high-temperature, and high-pressure applications. This model is specifically designed for industrial use and is available with a stainless steel construction.
  • High Solids Water Recovery (HSWR) System. A turnkey filtration system that integrates our Series 1000 automatic, self-cleaning filters with additional industry equipment to optimize biopharma water and wastewater treatment.

Regardless of the model you select, all Spiral Water filters are designed to deliver superior performance while minimizing CapEx and OpEx. Our advanced technology can handle high TSS loading of over 500 ppm, effectively processing bulk solids up to 15,000 mg/l TSS (15% by volume), while maintaining continuous 15-to-1500-micron filtration. Compared to large capital equipment, our solutions filter up to 50 times dirtier water in a single pass — with only a fraction of the energy and footprint.

Applications of Filtration in Biopharma and Bioprocess

Spiral Water offers innovative biopharma filtration solutions for a variety of high-solids, non-shear-sensitive applications. Our systems can be installed at both the feedstock side and wastewater discharge points to efficiently reduce TSS, BOD, and COD levels.

Common applications include:

  • Industrial Fermentation (bacteria, yeast, fungi)
  • Biomass and Algae Processing
  • Precision Fermentation and Alternative Proteins
  • Biofertilizers and Biopesticides
  • Organics (pharmaceuticals, hormones, antibiotics, solvents)
  • Inorganics (arsenic, lead, chromium, cadmium, mercury, lead)
  • Nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen)
  • Biodegradable Material (pathogenic bacteria and viruses from biological processes)

Filtration Solutions for Biopharma and Bioprocess Industries from Spiral Water Technologies, Inc.

Spiral Water offers cutting-edge filtration solutions that optimize biopharma water and wastewater treatment by effectively reducing solids, lowering operational costs, and ensuring compliance with discharge regulations. What sets our products apart is their ability to efficiently manage high TSS above 500 ppm. Our patented internal mechanical cleaning mechanism generates unique hydodynamic agitation, preventing filter clogging and ensuring continuous operation under challenging conditions. Unlike traditional backwash filters, our systems remain online even in upset conditions with TSS levels as high as 10,000 ppm without the need for operator intervention.

For multi-stage filtration processes, Spiral Water provides the most effective first line of defense. Contact us today to learn how our advanced filtration solutions can enhance your biopharma and bioprocess operations.