Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
autoclaves. Additionally, autoclaves add perhaps millions of dollars of capi-
tal investment. In those instances where decontamination is required, this
would mainly be a chemical process and made part of the discharge from
the bags, removing the need for a holding tank and allowing direct dis-
charge in sewer systems.
SIP/CIP
There will be nothing that will require cleaning or sterilization prior to
use—all systems would come presterilized and prefilled where necessary.
This is one single source of the largest use of water, and the savings would
accrue not only in the quantity of water but all systems that lead to the avail-
ability of pure steam. The cost of SIP/CIP is always underestimated in cost
calculations; besides the use of water, it should include the systems that need
maintenance to provide clean steam.
Distilled Water Loops
It is customary for the industry to have a stainless steel loop of distilled
water run at 80°C. The preparation of distilled water involves water puri-
fication, deionization, boiling water, condensing water, storing distilled
water, maintaining distilled water loops by passivation, sanitizing the
loops, and testing the ports for compliance with the quality of water dis-
charged. The industry requires only purified water, and this can be readily
provided by the double RO/EDI systems (see the manufacturing facility of
Therapeutic Proteins, Inc. (
www.theraproteins.com
)
for an example) once
the needs are reduced by almost 90% with the elimination of the autoclave
and SIP/CIP systems.
Low Ceiling Heights
Vertical ceiling heights will not be an impediment, as horizontal bioreactors
would replace the current multistory bioreactors, and so the cost of building
new facilities will decrease significantly.
