Abstract
Gentle mixing characteristics in a Graesser contactor can avoid the formation of stable emulsions, and this is one advantage of this contactor when used with reversed micellar extractions. However, this characteristic of the contactor is a disadvantage for back extraction using the conventional method (extremes in pH and ionic strength) because it gives a low extraction yield and requires a larger contactor. In order to develop an integrated process for continuous protein separation using reverse micelles, this work focused on assessing the novel technique of back extraction using a counterionic surfactant in a mixer-settler. It was found that the process gave a high extraction yield (95–100%) within an extraction time of only 5 min. Lower mixing speeds (200 rpm) and pHs [6] resulted in the highest sedimentation rate in the organic phase. Unfortunately, the cloudiness of the aqueous phase and the slow rate of lysozyme transfer into the aqueous phase in the settler were potential drawbacks of the system. However, the use of centrifugal force was found to be an important factor in enhancing the rate of back extraction when using a counterionic surfactant. Based on previous work of ours on forward extraction in a Graesser contactor, the continuous separation and recovery of proteins using reverse micelles seems feasible.
Published Version
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