Building PFDs for Biotech Processes

This set of vocabulary flashcards defines the core terminology, diagram types, and process components used in creating Process Flow Diagrams for biotechnology.

Process Flow Diagram (PFD)

A schematic that shows the main unit operations and material flows between them at a level of detail sufficient to support approximate mass and energy balances.

Block Flow Diagram (BFD)

A very high-level diagram consisting of a few blocks used for early concept discussions.

Piping and Instrumentation Diagram (P&ID)

A very detailed plant drawing showing equipment, pipes, valves, instruments, and control loops used for engineering and construction.

Unit Operations

Major process steps or equipment represented as boxes in a PFD, such as a bioreactor, centrifuge, or chromatography column.

Streams

The material flows between unit operations, categorized as inputs (raw materials), intermediates (harvested broth), or outputs (final product and waste).

Process Boundaries

The definition of what is inside the modelled process (production, recovery, purification) versus what is outside (suppliers, distribution, end-of-life disposal).

Utilities

Support systems required by unit operations, such as steam, cooling water, compressed air, gases, and clean water systems.

CIP/SIP

Generic terms for systems used for Cleaning-In-Place and Sterilisation-In-Place of process equipment.

Water for Injection (WFI)

A specific type of clean water system used as a utility in biotechnology processes.

Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA)

An analysis supported by PFDs to evaluate equipment, volumes, throughput, and consumables for a process.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

An analysis supported by PFDs to evaluate material and energy flows to determine the environmental footprint of a process.

Upstream

The initial section of a biotech process involving media preparation, seed bioreactors, and production bioreactors.

Primary Recovery

The section of a biotech process aimed at initial product separation, often involving centrifuges and micro filtration.

Purification

The process section involving steps like chromatography, ultra filtration, and diafiltration to isolate the target product.

Formulation / Finishing

The final stage of manufacturing involving formulation tanks, sterile filtration, and aseptic filling.

User Requirement Specification (URS)

Requirements that, alongside Critical Quality Attributes (CQAs), guide the structure and necessary steps of a PFD.