Two kinds of polysulfone microfiltration membranes were applied to the
multicompartment electrolyzer of multichannel flow electrophoresis (M
FE) to increase MFE output. Liquid-membrane interface modification aim
ed at reducing protein adsorption on the membrane surface was studied
by addition of polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol 4000, and polyvi
nylpyrolidone K30 in the protein solution. The experimental results sh
ow that the presence of these polymers reduces the protein adsorption,
and the electrophoretic migration speed of the charged protein in the
membrane is dominated by the interaction between the protein and the
membrane. Continuous separation of a bovine serum albumin and hemoglob
in mixture in the presence of PEG 4000 was conducted in a HT Tuffryn-
and a Supor-spaced MFE electrolyzer respectively, and yielded over 67
mg protein product per hour. The protein product fluxes were stable th
roughout the running period.