Industrial Enzymes & Bio-Ingredients worked example

Downstream Recovery at 14% expected downstream loss share: a worked example

What does the result look like when expected downstream loss share reaches 14%? The full calculation is worked below with real intermediate numbers. Use it when evaluating filtration, concentration, chromatography, membrane, centrifuge, or drying recovery assumptions for enzyme and bio-ingredient batches.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Activity units entering downstream: 4,200 MMU (unchanged)
  • Cost per lost activity unit: 18 $ / MMU (unchanged)
  • Expected downstream loss share: 14 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 12)
  • Fixed downstream processing cost: 9,500 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Variable downstream recovery cost = activity units entering downstream × cost per lost activity unit × expected downstream loss share) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 20,084 $ for total downstream recovery cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 4.78 $ / MMU for cost per lost activity unit.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 10,584 $ for variable downstream recovery cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 9,500 $ for fixed downstream processing cost.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where expected downstream loss share sits at 12% and the headline result is 18,572 $, this scenario comes in 8.14% above the baseline at 20,084 $.
  • A figure at this level is achievable when expected downstream loss share is genuinely sustained, not just peaked for a shift. It treats loss share as a single blended percentage across all unit operations, so it won't pinpoint which step (centrifuge vs. UF vs. polishing) is bleeding activity.

Results at a glance

  • Total downstream recovery cost: 20,084 $ (headline result)
  • Cost per lost activity unit: 4.78 $ / MMU
  • Variable downstream recovery cost: 10,584 $
  • Fixed downstream processing cost: 9,500 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Downstream Recovery calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.