GEA equips new Biopharma plant in Ukraine with new separator technology for blood plasma fractionation

The new equipment will not only enable Biopharma to supply Ukraine with high-quality products, but also to take a leading position in the world ranking of high-tech plasma processors. Separators already supplied, such as a GEA separator BKA 6 for blood plasma fractionation in 2004, two Pathfinders PSC 8 (probiotics) in 2014, and separators PKI 45, BKB 28, one BKA 45 and two BKI 45 to date, represent successful cooperation of GEA with the Ukrainian company for more than 15 years.

Specific examples of Biopharma's products produced using GEA technologies include blood coagulation factor VIII (Factor VIII, F8), also known as Antihemophilic Globulin A, a vital drug for hemophilia patients. An acute deficiency of the glycoprotein or lack of this clotting factor in humans and vertebrates leads to hemophilia A, the so-called hemophilia. Biopharma also produces albumin. Like globulins, albumins belong to the group of globular proteins. In the human organism, albumin is primarily responsible for maintaining colloid osmotic pressure and imparts water solubility to many otherwise water-insoluble substances by binding them to albumin. It is used especially for renewal and maintenance of circulating blood volume in case of injuries and during surgical interventions. Finally, the production of immunoglobulins ("antibodies") represents another focus of Biopharma and the very one that the new BKI 45 separators are instrumental in driving forward in the context of blood plasma fractionation. Antibodies are proteins from the globulin class that are used to strengthen the body's protective functions for example in the case of immune deficiencies, autoimmune diseases or acute infectious diseases. These antibodies are thus at the service of the immune system.

Three specialized GEA chamber separators for blood plasma fractionation, including the BKI 45, have been installed in the new fractionation plant at the new Bila Tserkva plant. These separators are designed for fractionation of human blood plasma proteins. The BKI 45 has its own reliable cooling system, which includes the bowl, hood and frame. In addition, the machine can be protected against power failure, for example, by the GEA plasmacool skid.

Valuable proteins are separated and accumulated in the chamber of the separator bowl and periodically removed manually. Centrifuges with a dual-circuit cooling system are used for fractionation. Liners in the separator bowl divide it into two chambers. The product is fed into the center of the bowl and then flows from the center to the periphery of the bowl through the two chambers, where the particulate fraction is separated and the solids are removed. The separation efficiency remains the same until the chamber is filled.