Separation Processes in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Separation processes are inevitably needed in the pharmaceutical industry, whether it is for purification of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) or intermediate, or for separating the biocatalyst post-biocatalysis, among others. Various traditional methods are available, including chromatography and liquid-liquid extraction, that are continuously being improved to further improve the performance. New methods have also been proposed, like membrane-based separations, which are common in biopharmaceutical manufacturing but not in small-molecule API manufacturing.

Targeted at separation processes in pharmaceutical manufacturing, which are known to represent up to 80% of manufacturing costs, this Research Topic serves to compile in one place a summary of the state-of-the-art processes, current used, or most promising for implementation in the foreseeable future. This will be useful not only for practitioners to better understand available separation techniques, but also for academics to focus their research interests.

Review articles summarizing:
o Separation requirements during pharmaceutical manufacturing
o Current separation techniques in the pharmaceutical industry
o Techniques that are not in use yet but highly promising

Original Research articles on separation processes tailored for different pharmaceutical separations, including but not limited to:
o Membrane-based
o Chromatography
o Liquid-liquid extraction
o Centrifugation

Keywords: separations, purification, biopharmaceutical, active pharmaceutical ingredient

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.