EFFECTS OF PH ON THE ULTRAFILTRATION OF BOVINE SERUM-ALBUMIN AT HIGH IONIC-STRENGTH USING A MACROPOROUS TITANIA MEMBRANE

The ultrafiltration of bovine serum albumin (BSA) buffered at pH 3.8, 4.8 and 6.8 in solutions with ionic strengths greater than 0.05 mol dm (3) was investigated at pressures of 0.20 and 0.70 MPa using a macropo rous titania membrane. Protein rejections as high. as 0.94 were obtain ed. Both pH ana pressure affected the permeability and rejection. The relative amount of irreversible fouling was estimated by evaluating pa rameters of a resistance model. Conditions providing the lowest foulin g index and the least irreversible fouling while retaining high BSA re jection were obtained at the highest pH, 6.8, and lowest pressure, 0.2 0 MPa.