Bovine serum albumin and myoglobin separation on HAp

Abstract

The separation of the proteins Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and Myoglobin (Mb) was achieved experimentally by the simulated moving bed (SMB) technology using HAp as adsorbent and by performing a buffer step-elution in the FlexSMB-LSRE unit. Batch experiments determined the BSA and Mb adsorption equilibrium using pH 7 at different buffer concentrations. Then, fixed bed experiments were also performed for both proteins using the same buffer concentration. The validity of a phenomenological mathematical model, specifically the general rate model combined with steric mass action equilibrium, was confirmed through experimental validation using fixed bed dynamic adsorption tests at various buffer concentrations. Based on the results, a separation region was computed, and suitable operating conditions for an SMB experiment were chosen from within this region. Experimental verification was performed to validate the selected operating point, and purity, recovery, and productivity of Mb on the extract were 92%, 87% and 1.04×10-3 molprotein · kgads−1· day−1, and for BSA on the raffinate were 95%, 98%, and 1.24×10-3 molprotein · kgads−1· day−1 respectively.