PDA Technical Glossary
PDA Technical Reports are highly valued membership benefits because they offer expert guidance and opinions on important scientific and regulatory topics and are used as essential references by industry and regulatory authorities around the world. These reports include terms which explain the material and enhance the reader’s understanding.
The database presented here includes the glossary terms from all current technical reports. The database is searchable by keyword, topic, or by technical report. Each definition provided includes a link to the source technical report within the PDA Technical Report Portal.
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Fed-Batch Filtration Process
A modification of the batch filtration process in which a separate (typically larger) reservoir feeds a smaller recycle tank. The retentate stream is returned to the recycle tank. (TR15)
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Feed
The starting solution prior to filtration. (TR15)
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Feed (or Load or Feedstock or Feedstream)
The fluid introduced into a process. (TR41)
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Feed Pressure
The pressure measured at the inlet of the tangential flow filter device. (TR15)
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Filter
A porous medium used for the separation of components in a fluid stream.(TR15)
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Filter (verb)
To pass a fluid through a porous medium whereby bacteria or other particles are removed from the fluid. (TR26)
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Filter Efficiency
A measurement of how well a filter retains particles. It is usually expressed as the percentage, or ratio, of the retention of particles of a specific size by a filter. (TR26)
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Filterability Test
A test to determine the suitability and sizing of a filter with a given fluid. (TR26)
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Filtrate
Fluid that has been passed through a process step (filter). [Synonym: Permeate] (TR15) (TR26)
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Filtration
A process of removing particles from a fluid by passing it through a permeable material, such as a membrane film. (TR41) The process by which particles are removed from a fluid by passing the fluid through a porous material. (TR26)
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Flow Decay Test
An experiment to determine flow rate and throughput of a filter type or combination of filters on a specific liquid, usually by using a small area filter, to determine the sizing of a filter system by extrapolation. (TR45)
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Flow Rate
The volumetric rate of flow of a solution, expressed in units of volume per time (e.g., L/min or gal/day). (TR15) (TR26)
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Flow-through
Effluent that may contain the product that is not retained by chromatography resin during column loading. (TR14)
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Foulant
Solute or suspended solid that interacts with the membrane causing a decrease in performance (see Fouling). (TR15)
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Fouling (or Clogging)
Adsorption or interaction with components in the feed stream resulting in a decrease in membrane performance. Generally, fouling can be reversed by cleaning the membrane. (TR15) The result of solutes blinding or blocking membrane pores. It is observed as a decrease in the flux (at constant pressure) or an increase in the filtration differential pressure (at constant flux). (TR26)
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Frit
A porous sieve or screen installed at the top and bottom of a column used to retain chromatography resin particles and allow passage of the process stream. [Synonym: sinter] (TR14)