We routinely use Amicon's system to concentrate viruses from
seawater (see: Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 57:721-726). We use
spiral wound cartridges (low protein binding) rather than hollow
fiber. Recovery efficiencies approach 100 % in artificial seawater
or when viruses are added to ultrafiltrate. Efficiencies are much lower
ca 30 to 50% in natural seawater. I don't think this is a problem with
the cartridge but results from attachment of the viruses to other
particulate material in the seawater. This becomes more significant as
the particulate material is concnetrated. Prior to concentration
with the 30,000 MW cartridge we filter the seawater through a 0.2um
low protein binding filter.
--
_
Q | \
|\ |---\--\
| \ |_____OO\________ Curtis Suttle
|__\___________/________/______/ Marine Science Inst
\ o o o o LONGHORN O / Univ of Texas @ Austin
\ VV/ Port Aransas TX 78373
~~~~~~\~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~/~~~~~ curtis at utmsi.zo.utexas.edu
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
