PSL have developed a new Aseptic ChargePoint, high containment split butterfly valve. This innovative system can be sterilised in place enabling powder transfer without risk of product contamination or operator exposure.

Given the phenomenal advances in the biotech industry, demand for new methods of contained and sterile transfer of products is continually growing, requiring ever more sophisticated equipment. Requirements are two fold; products need to be kept sterile, whilst operator protection must be maintained within agreed operator exposure limits.

High containment split butterfly valve systems are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry however, to date these valves could not be sterilised in situ. The unique design Aseptic ChargePoint (patent pending) enables products to be transferred in a sterile manner, by creating an intermediate chamber, which can be sterilised before each product transfer. This in situ sterilisation capability ensures sterility of the split valve parts when fully docked.

The intermediate docking position allows cleaning and irrigation of the intermediate zone with HEPA filtered Nitrogen or air to achieve Grade A/Class 100 environment prior to sterilisation with hydrogen peroxide vapour. This cleaning and sterilisation cycle enables aseptic product transfers and connections. The combination of decontamination and sterilisation results in prevention of Endotoxins and minimisation of Bioburden.

This novel addition to the PSL ChargePoint range simplifies processes, such as sterile reactor charging in parenteral production, which typically require isolator systems or time consuming autoclave procedures.