Downstream Processing & Recovery
Recovery Strategies designed around your product, not simply the available unit operation.
Successful Fermentation is Only Part of the Manufacturing Challenge
Once fermentation is complete, the product must be separated, concentrated, recovered or otherwise prepared for its next manufacturing step. The best recovery approach depends on where the target product is located, the characteristics of the biomass or broth, the required concentration, stability and final product specifications. The recovery process must protect product quality, achieve the required concentration or purity, and remain practical at commercial scale.
Because every product behaves differently, we evaluate recovery requirements alongside the fermentation process- not as an afterthought. Our team considers cell characteristics, product location, solids content, temperature sensitivity, throughput, yield requirements, and final product format when configuring the recovery sequence.
WBP works with our customers to transfer or develop downstream strategies using our core downstream capabilities and beyond.
Available Downstream Operations
- Cell and biomass separation
- Centrifugation
- Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration
- Homogenization and cell disruption
- Concentration of cells or supernatant
- Chemical precipitation
- Sterilization
- Media and buffer preparation
- Temperature-controlled processing
- Intermediate holding and final packaging
Developing a Practical Recovery Strategy
A recovery step that works at bench scale may create throughput, yield or handling problems at larger volumes. WBP works with customer teams to evaluate product location, solids loading, viscosity, temperature sensitivity, recovery yield, process time and equipment compatibility before defining the production sequence.
Integrated With Fermentation
Because fermentation and recovery can be coordinated within the same manufacturing program, operating decisions can be made with the downstream process in mind. This can simplify transfers, reduce unnecessary handling and create a clearer path from harvest to finished bulk material.