PROTEIN MASS-TRANSFER STUDIES ON A SPRAY COLUMN USING THE PEG-REPPAL PES 100 AQUEOUS 2-PHASE SYSTEM

The characterization of Bovine Serum Albumin mass transfer mechanisms in a spray column using an aqueous two-phase system composed of poly(e thylene glycol) and a modified starch-Reppal PES 100-is done. The poly (ethylene glycol) rich phase is used as the dispersed phase and protei n transfer takes place from the dispersed phase to the continuous phas e. The effect of dispersed phase superficial velocity, system composit ion, continuous phase height and distribution system design on either overall protein mass transfer coefficient or column hold-up is describ ed. It is shown that continuous phase superficial velocity and phase c omposition are the main controlling factors for protein transfer. It i s also observed that, with the tested system, only at very low dispers ed phase superficial velocities is it possible to operate the spray co lumn as an extraction column. In this system the upper operating limit of the dispersed phase velocity is ten times smaller than in other aq ueous two-phase systems.