Repeated use of a hydrophobic ligand-containing porous membrane for protein recovery

A porous hollow-fiber membrane containing a phenyl group as a hydrophobic ligand was prepared by radiation-induced graft polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate, followed by successive ring-opening reactions with phenol and water. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was bound to the ligand during permeation of a BSA solution in phosphate buffer containing 2 M (NH4)(2)SO4 through the pores of the hollow fiber. Subsequent elution with an (NH4)(2)SO4-free buffer exhibited an elution percentage of 82%. Repeated cycles of adsorption and elution caused the accumulation of BSA on the pore surface, resulting in a decrease in the binding capacity of BSA with increasing number of cycles, In contrast, by permeating 1 M NaOH after each elution, the binding capacity of BSA was maintained even after ten cycles. This alkaline regeneration was found to be effective in ensuring repeated use of the phenyl-group-containing porous membrane for recovery of proteins.