Mass transfer parameters evaluation in protein adsorption on macroporous resin

Mass transfer coefficient and pore effective diffusivity were evaluated in Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) adsorption on Accell Plus QMA(R) macroporous ads orbent resin using Tris-HCl buffer solutions (0.02M pH 7.0). The characteri stic equilibrium and adsorption kinetic parameters were obtained using cont inuous stirred system. The experiments were used to confirm the theoretical model that involves the combination of resistance to the mass transfer in the liquid phase and the diffusivity in the adsorbent resin pores. The mode l solution was obtained through the orthogonal collocation method. A non-li near multivariable optimisation method was used to fit the model to experim ental results. Average values 6.52.10(-4) m s(-1) to the mass transfer coef ficient, and 5.97.10(-11) m(2) s(-1) to the effective diffusivity were obta ined in the same buffer. BSA solutions with concentrations varying from 1.5 .10(-3) g cm(-3) to 4.0.10(-3) g cm(-3) were used.