A Simple Complexation Model and the Experimental Datafor Protein Extraction Using Reverse Micellar Systems

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tarbiat Modarres University, P.O. Box 14115- 143, Tehran, IR Iran.

Abstract

and purification of proteins and enzymes in downstream processing. In this study a simple complexation
model was developed for protein extraction using reverse micelles. We assumed that the size of proteinreverse micelle complex is a function of net charge of protein and salt concentration. The model has been applied to correlate the experimental data for reverse micellar extraction of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lysozyme. The solutions of reverse micelles for extraction of BSA and lysozyme were composed of
cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), a cationic surfactant, and sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate
(NaDEHP), an anionic surfactant, respectively. Moreover, the effects of surfactant concentration, pH
of aqueous phase, and salt concentration were investigated. In comparison with experiment the results of
the model for both systems are in very good agreement.

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