RECOVERY OF PROTEINS AND AMINO-ACIDS FROM REVERSE MICELLES BY DEHYDRATION WITH MOLECULAR-SIEVES

A new method is presented to precipitate proteins and amino acids from reverse micelles by dehydrating the micelles with molecular sieves. N early complete precipitation is demonstrated for alpha-chymotrypsin, c ytochrome-c, and tryptophan from 2-ethylhexyl sodium sulfosuccinate (A OT)/isooctane/water reverse micelle solutions. The products precipitat e as a solid powder, which is relatively free of surfactant. The metho d does not require any manipulation of pH, ionic strength, temperature , pressure, or solvent composition, and is applicable over a broad ran ge of these properties. This general approach is compared with other t echniques for the recovery of biomolecules from reverse micelles. (C) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.