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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
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Continuous Liquid-Liquid Extraction of Medium-Chain Fatty Acids from Fermentation Broth Using Hollow-Fiber Membranes
Published on: August 9, 2024
Application of membrane-based preferential transport to whole broth processing.
1Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2136; telephone: 313-764-4315; fax: 313-763-0459; e-mail: maburns@umich.edu.
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|August 20, 1997
Summary
Preferential transport using adsorptive membranes efficiently separates proteins like lysozyme from fermentation broths. Oscillatory flows prevent cell deposition, enabling continuous protein concentration.
Area of Science:
- Biochemical Engineering
- Membrane Science
- Separation Technology
Background:
- Selective removal of biochemicals from complex mixtures like fermentation broths is challenging.
- Adsorptive membranes offer a potential solution for direct separation.
- Existing methods often struggle with membrane fouling from cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the use of preferential transport in adsorptive membranes for direct separation of lysozyme.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of oscillatory flows in mitigating membrane fouling by yeast cells.
- To explore the potential for continuous protein concentration using this technique.
Main Methods:
- Utilized adsorptive membranes for preferential transport.
- Separated lysozyme from a mixture containing myoglobin and yeast cells.
- Employed oscillatory flows to manage cell deposition and cake formation.
Main Results:
- Successfully separated lysozyme directly from the fermentation broth.
- Oscillatory flows proved highly effective in preventing cake formation due to yeast cell deposition.
- Theoretical analysis indicated potential for continuous concentrated protein streams through process optimization.
Conclusions:
- Preferential transport in adsorptive membranes is a viable method for direct biochemical separation.
- Oscillatory flow regimes significantly enhance membrane performance by reducing fouling.
- This technique holds promise for efficient and continuous downstream processing in biotechnology.
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