Protein extraction in a spray column using a polyethylene glycol-maltodextrin two-phase polymer system

Abstract

Protein recovery, with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model, was performed in a laboratory spray column using inexpensive aqueous two-phase systems. A light phase rich in polyethylene glycol (PEG) was steadily dispersed into a heavy continuous phase containing maltodextrin (MDX). The PEG phase holdup and BSA mass transfer coefficients were measured in spray columns with internal diameters of 22 and 33 mm, using several sparger designs. The overall BSA mass transfer coefficients were greater in the PEG-maltodextrin systems than those encountered in PEG-dextran systems with similar BSA partition coefficients. Empirical correlations are proposed for mass transfer coefficients and PEG phase holdup.