Modeling, by Frontal Analysis, of the Adsorption of Bovine Serum Albumin on Cibacron Blue-Modified Cellulose Membranes

Abstract

The adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on cibacron blue F3GA cellulose affinity membranes has been studied by frontal analysis. The ideal stirred tank (IST) model, the modified stirred tank (MST) model, and the equilibrium–dispersive (E–D) model were used to describe experimental breakthrough curves. The E–D model was found to best describe the initial region of the breakthrough curve whereas the MST model was best for the late region, implying a difference between the initial and late stages of adsorption. According to the E–D model, the effect of axial dispersion was not negligible, possibly because of experimental factors such as inhomogeneous distribution of the feed solution and the thinness of affinity membranes. The variable α of the MST model can be taken as the adjusted number of theoretical plates of the affinity membranes. The maximum value of α was found experimentally by varying the flow rate; increasing the feed concentration led to a smaller value of α.