Foam Fractionation of Proteins in A Loop Bubble Column

摘要

Foam separation of protein from its aqueous solution in the absence of surfactant was carried out in a loop bubble column, in which a draft tube was mounted vertically at the bottom of the column to generate rapid circulation of air bubbles and liquid around the draft tube. The surface tension of bovine serum albumin and Hemoglobin solution was measured at different pH and ionic strength to characterize their adsorption at the gas-liquid interface. The effects of pH, ionic strength and gas flow rate on foam separation of BSA and HBB from their respective aqueous solutions were examined, respectively. Fractionation of BSA and HBB mixture was carried out in batch mode and the optimal separation was achieved at pH3.9, as estimated on the basis of the separation of the single component protein solution.