Mechanical Stress on Lysozyme Crystals during Dynamic Cross‐Flow Filtration

Abstract

AbstractThe influence of mechanical stress on the crystal size distribution of lysozyme crystal slurries in a dynamic cross‐flow device is discussed. The reduction of crystal size may have an influence on mass and resistance of the fouling layer. A filter test device with a filter area of 130 cm2 is used for thickening. After thickening, a model impurity, namely bovine serum albumin, is washed out of the suspension. A reduction of crystal size due to stirring and a reduced fouling layer with increasing stirrer speed is observed. Furthermore, a higher stirring speed increases the specific filtrate flux. In the presence of the impurity, more crystal aggregates than single isometric crystals are formed and, hence, the decrease of crystal size due to shear forces is more pronounced than without impurity.