Sanitization of RO Membranes in Purified Water System

Sanitization of RO Membranes using strong chemical can damage and it can be sanitized using hot water.

The main ingredient in most of the pharmaceutical products used by people is water. Given the ever-increasing concerns about the ingredients usedto make pharmaceutical products, it is important to ensure that the water used is stable and consistent.

The Reverse Osmosis (RO) system is at the heart of the process of water purification. It uses semi-permeable polyamide membranes that provide rejections of organic and ionic impurities that exceed 99%.

The RO membranes pores are in real sense intersegmental spaces within the polymer molecules. The membranes are large enough to allow permeation of water molecules but not big enough to allow hydrated chemical ions to pass through. Below is a look at how sanitization of membranes in the purified water system is done. Several factors affect the selectivity of water molecule permeation, including the differential pressure across the membranes, temperature and pH. By using the correct operation and controls, the RO membranes can achieve excellent microbial, endotoxin and chemical quality reduction from aqueous streams.

In order to control microbial growth, purified water systems should undergo regular chemical sanitization. This helps disrupt any biofilm that may protect viable bacteria from coming into contact with the sanitant. Additionally, it removes foulants that can react with the sanitizing agent and deplete it. Purified water system sanitization should be done using RO bypass.

RO membranes are chemically sensitive and may damage by the strong chemicals. Therefore, sanitization of RO membranes is done using circulating hot water. Purified hot water (80° C) is circulated through the RO membranes. It removes the microbial contamination in the RO membranes. Water system sanitization with hot water should be done every week.

Related: Bio-contamination Control Techniques for Purified Water System

RO membrane has very fine pores those may block with the small impurities dissolved in RO feed water. It can be determined by the increased back pressure of the RO membrane, This blockage should be removed by the backwashing of the RO membranes. The frequency of the backwashing depends upon the usage of the water system and quality of the feed water but it should be at least once in 24 hours. It will help to minimize the biofilm formation on the RO membrane.

Related: Removal of the Pathogenic Bacteria from Water Systems

Microbial analysis of RO rejected water shall also inform the microbial load on the reverse osmosis membrane. The increasing microbial load in this sample shall indicate the increased microbial population on the membrane surface which requires the backwash or hot water sanitization of RO membrane and the whole system.

Comments

Sterility Testing by Direct Inoculation Method

Sterility Testing by Direct Inoculation Method Direct Inoculation Method Learn the procedure for sterility test for sterile pharmaceutical products by direct inoculation method. 1.0 Objective : To lay down Standard Operating Procedure is to provide guidelines for sterility testing by Direct Inoculation Method. 2.0 Scope This procedure is applicable for the products manufactured at the location which can not be tested by Membrane Filtration Method. 3.0 Responsibility Implementation: Microbiologist 4.0 Accountability Execution: Manager - QC Review & Approval : AGM - QA / QC Procedure Direct Inoculation Method Sample for Finished Products: Collect the samples to be tested for sterility. Out of the whole sample, randomly select 20 articles of each lot of batch for both LVP and SVP t erminal ly sterilized products and for aseptically filled products. Sample for Intermediates: Randomly collect 16 pre-sterilized bottle samples to be tested for sterility from LVP bot...

SOP for Washing of HPLC Column After Use

SOP for Washing of HPLC Column After Use Standard operating procedure to wash the HPLC column after analysis. 1.0 OBJECTIVE To clean the column thoroughly after its each use to avoid any interference on repeated usage. 2.0 SCOPE This procedure is applicable for different groups of H.P.L.C columns used in Quality Control laboratory. 3.0 RESPONSIBILITY 2.1 Doing: Technical Assistant 2.2 Checking: Executive /Manager 4.0 ACCOUNTABILITY Head of the Department 5.0 PROCEDURE 5.1 For C18, C8, C6, Phenyl, (CN, Amine, Silica column.:) 5.1.1 Wash the column with the solvent which is use in individual product mobile phase preparation. eg. suppose water is use in mobile phase preparation then wash the column with water. 5.1.2 Allow the minimum 30 ml washing medium to flow through the column. 5.1.3 Disconnect the column from the HPLC unit and store in an allocated place. 5.2 For Protein pack column: 5.2.1 Wash the column with minimum 30 ml of 2.5 M acetic acid. 5.2.4 Disconnect the column from ...

Blow Fill Seal (BFS) and Form Fill Seal (FFS) Technology in Sterile Manufacturing

Blow Fill Seal (BFS) and Form Fill Seal (FFS) Technology in Sterile Manufacturing Know about sterile pharmaceutical production using Blow Fill Seal (BFS) and Form Fill Seal (FFS) technology. Both of these techniques are used to manufacture sterile pharmaceutical products as parenteral (LVP & SVP), infusions, ophthalmic and inhalation products. These are automated techniques to prepare sterile products. The basic concept of the FFS and BFS is to reduce the contamination by forming the container, filling and sealing in a closed sterile chamber of the machine. There is no personnel intervention to reduce the chances of the contamination during the manufacturing of sterile products. It gives more production at very low operational cost with the high assurance of sterility . Blow fill seal technology is widely used and accepted by the various pharmaceutical regulatory authorities as US-FDA and MHRA. The system is being used for over 30 years a...

Aseptic Filling Process (Media Fill) Validation Protocol in Sterile Pharmaceuticals

Aseptic Filling Process (Media Fill) Validation Protocol in Sterile Pharmaceuticals Validation of sterile manufacturing process by media fill validation test as per PICS guidelines for aseptic validation or aseptic process simulation. 1.0 OBJECTIVE 1.1 To define procedures for validating and maintaining the validation of all aseptic filling processes and qualification of the quality of the product by system/facility/equipment. 2.0 SCOPE 2.1 This procedure applies to all aseptically filled sterile products intended for human use. 3.0 RESPONSIBILITY 3.1 The Validation personnel coordinate the aseptic filling validation program and write the sterile media aseptic filling processes reports. 3.2 Manufacturing personnel the sterile media aseptic filling processes and performs the sterile media fills. 3.3 QA personnel perform the sampling and assist with the IPQA monitoring required for each sterile media fill. 3.4 QC personnel to perform the testing and assist with the monitoring required fo...

Media Fill Test for Sterile API Manufacturing Process

Media Fill Test for Sterile API Manufacturing Process Know about the process simulation test for the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing process. Media fill test is done to verify the sterility of the sterile manufacturing process. Media fill validation for sterile API is different from the sterile formulation media fill. There are different processes in the sterile API manufacturing as filtration, crystallization, drying, milling etc. These all are different from the sterile formulation process where the sterile material is filled in sterile containers in aseptic conditions . Lactose powder is used in the process simulation. The whole media fill process is carried out in two phases 1) Wet Phase 2) Dry phase 1) Wet Phase: Non-sterile lactose powder is used in the wet phase. Wet phase simulates the liquid processing steps of the manufacturing process i.e. aseptic filtration of lactose solution from controlled area reactor to cryst...

Pharmaceutical Guidelines

Search This Blog