PROCESS-SCALE EVALUATION OF A FAST-FLOWING ANION-EXCHANGE CELLULOSE

The scale-up of the separation of hen egg-white proteins was investigated using Whatman DEAE-cellulose/D856, a fast-flowing microgranular anion-exchange cellulose. Under suitable conditions the maximum binding capacity for ovalbumin was determined to be 84 mg protein/ml packed DEAE-cellulose/D856 in a 25-ml column. The process was scaled-up 1000-fold and using a sub-maximum loading a working capacity of 56 mg protein/ml bed was obtained at a linear flow-rate of 150 cm/h. This reflects 100% recovery of applied ovalbumin with utilization of 66% of the theoretical maximum capacity of the medium. It is estimated that the productivity of this system would be up to 20 kg ovalbumin/m(3).h based on these data.