Experimental and modeling study of protein adsorption in expanded bed

Abstract

AbstractStreamline DEAE is the first‐generation adsorbent developed for expanded bed adsorption (low‐density base matrix with wide particle size distribution and ligand sensitive to ionic strength and salt concentration), and Streamline direct CST I is the second‐generation adsorbent (high‐density base matrix with narrow particle size distribution and ligand not sensitive to ionic strength and salt concentration). In this paper, experiments were carried out for bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein adsorption in expanded beds, where a Streamline 50 column was packed either with Streamline DEAE or with Streamline direct CST I. The hydrodynamics, BSA dynamic binding capacity, and BSA recovery in the whole expanded bed adsorption process were compared for both adsorbents. A mathematical model, in which intraparticle diffusion, film mass transfer, liquid axial dispersion, solid axial dispersion, particle size axial distribution, and bed voidage axial variation were taken into account, was developed to predict the breakthrough curves in expanded bed adsorption. BSA breakthrough curves in expanded bed adsorption were measured for both Streamline DEAE and Streamline CST I, and compared with the predictions from this mathematical model. The effects of intraparticle diffusion, film mass transfer, liquid and solid axial dispersion, particle size axial distribution, and bed voidage axial variation on the breakthrough curves were evaluated for expanded bed adsorption with both adsorbents. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005