An Inside Look at Tangential Flow Filtration

In his analytica USA presentation “Tangential Flow Filtration and Affinity Chromatography,” John Cashman, product manager for lab filtration at Sartorius, highlighted the critical role of biomolecule purity in ensuring reliable, accurate, and reproducible research results. In life science and biopharmaceutical laboratories around the world, achieving high levels of purity is not only essential for data quality but also for the efficiency and sustainability of the overall workflow (1). Comprehensive purification solutions that extend from the earliest stages of cell culture through to the production of the final purified material can assist scientists throughout the process development and production stage (1).

In his talk, Cashman introduced the latest developments in lab-scale tangential flow filtration (TFF) and affinity chromatography (AC) from Sartorius. Together, TFF and AC often serve as complementary steps within biomolecule purification workflows, addressing different but interconnected challenges in the laboratory (1). He detailed how key design features and application life cycle assessment data translate into practical benefits in the lab, including simplified operation, greater flexibility in handling, and fewer overall process steps (1). These improvements can help to shorten purification timelines and reduce the resources required, supporting both scientific productivity and environmental responsibility (1).

LCGC International spoke to Cashman about the application and TFF and how it is being improved to be more environmentally sustainable. In this clip, Cashman defines what TFF is and what design features have been added to this technique to reduce its environmental impact in research laboratories.

This interview segment is part of our conversation with Cashman. Throughout the next week, we will be publishing our coverage of the Analytica USA conference. To stay up to date with all the latest from our coverage of Analytica USA, click here.

Reference

1. Analytica USA, John Cashman. Analytica USA. Available at: https://aus2025.mapyourshow.com/8_0/sessions/session-details.cfm?scheduleid=64 (accessed 2025-09-10).