Modelling of protein mixture separation in a batch foam column

Separation of proteins from their binary mixtures has been investigated usi ng static foams. It is seen that for the two binary mixtures investigated ( BSA-casein. BSA-lysozyme), adsorption is kinetically controlled and does no t attain equilibrium. There is a strong interaction between the two protein s and the presence of one strongly influences the adsorption of the other. The concentration of a protein in the foam, depends not only on the amount adsorbed at the interface but also on the liquid associated with it. The la tter changes with time due to drainage of foam. A phenomenological model is developed to predict the concentration of protein in foam, The model accou nts for the interaction between the adsorption of the two proteins by assoc iating a larger area to one of them because Of its special surface morpholo gy. The adsorption kinetics modified for the interaction along with the foa m drainage, has been employed to predict the variation of protein concentra tion in foam as a function of time and other influencing parameters. The mo del is able to capture the various features of the phenomenon quantitativel y. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.