Concentration and purification of orotic acid directly from whey with an expanded bed adsorption system

The development of an expanded bed process for the concentration and purification of orotic acid directly from whey is described. Different commercially available adsorbents were tested in series of pilot batch adsorption experiments to determine the most suitable separation system. Best results were achieved using a weak anion-exchange matrix. An elution protocol was established using MgCl2 as eluting agent to recover the adsorbed orotic acid with approximately 85% yield and 10-fold concentration. Purified orotic acid was precipitated under acid conditions with a yield of 95%.