Process optimization for foam separation of yak whey protein by response surface methodology

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn order to recovery whey protein from yak whey wastewater effectively, a facile method of foam separation to be suitable for the local nomadic herdsmen in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has been established in this research. The effects of the four factors, protein concentration, gas velocity, temperature and pH, on the performance of foam separation were investigated. Based on the single factor experiments, the response surface software was adopted to optimize and to investigate conditions of foam separation for whey protein, and the optimal conditions were found to be protein concentration of 120 μg/mL, gas velocity of 310 mL/min, temperature of 41°C and pH of 3.8, respectively. The as-obtained results of verification experiments, recovery percentage 88.3% and enrichment ratio 9.25 showed that foam separation technique was a simple equipment and environmental compatibility method to separate whey protein from yak whey wastewater.