What is the purpose of lyophilization in downstream processing?
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the purpose of lyophilization in downstream processing?
To purify proteins
To remove water from the product
To enhance product activity
To increase product solubility
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the purpose of lyophilization in downstream processing?
Step 1: Understand that lyophilization is a process also known as freeze-drying.
Step 2: Recognize that this process involves freezing the product first.
Step 3: After freezing, the water in the product is removed by turning it into vapor without going through a liquid phase (this is called sublimation).
Step 4: The removal of water helps to prevent spoilage and degradation of the product.
Step 5: Finally, the product becomes stable and can be stored for a long time without losing its effectiveness.