[Nisin adsorption on silica adsorbents]

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology
• Biochemistry
• Separation Science

Background:

• Nisin, a bacteriocin, is a valuable antimicrobial peptide produced during bacterial fermentation.
• Efficient recovery of nisin from complex fermentation broths is crucial for its industrial application.
• Silica-based materials are explored as potential adsorbents for biomolecule purification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of silica adsorbents for nisin recovery.
• To determine the optimal pore structure of silica for nisin adsorption.
• To evaluate the influence of medium pH on nisin adsorption by silica.

Main Methods:

• Adsorption experiments using silica adsorbents with varying pore sizes.
• Nisin adsorption from centrifuged fermentation broth solutions.
• Analysis of adsorption rates at different medium pH values.

Main Results:

• Silica adsorbents demonstrated effective adsorption of nisin.
• Silica with pore sizes ranging from 50 to 75 nm exhibited the highest adsorption rates.
• Nisin adsorption was significantly influenced by medium pH, with maximum adsorption observed at pH 6.5–7.
• Adsorption was notably low at pH 3.5.

Conclusions:

• Silica adsorbents are suitable for nisin recovery from fermentation broths.
• Tailoring silica pore size to 50-75 nm optimizes nisin adsorption.
• Controlling medium pH to near-neutral conditions (6.5-7) is essential for maximizing nisin recovery using silica adsorbents.