Mass balance considerations for chemical recycling in two phase aqueous fractionation of proteins

Mathematical modelling, using mass balances, of a polymer/salt two phase aqueous protein fractionation process with phase chemical recycle, is used to investigate the effect of several process parameters on phase chemical requirement. Data available on whey protein fractionation to produce α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin are used. Parameters considered include the fraction of phase chemicals recycled, concentrating of phase chemicals in the recycles, bottom phase polymer concentration, concentrating of protein in the feed stream, and the effect of protein build-up due to recycling. The analysis shows that considerable savings in phase chemical requirement can be made by selecting appropriate process parameter values.