MECHANISMS FOR THE ACOUSTIC CONDITIONING OF PROTEIN PRECIPITATES TO IMPROVE THEIR SEPARATION BY CENTRIFUGATION

A theoretical description of a low-frequency, dual-source acoustic treatment of protein precipitates is presented. Two mechanisms for the potential improvement of the centrifugal separation of precipitates are proposed. They are acoustic aggregation, which causes an increase in particle size, and aggregate deformation, which results in an increase in aggregate density. Experiments with isoelectric soy protein precipitate indicated that the extent of ageing prior to acoustic conditioning is important. Support for aggregation and dewatering was found and a maximum increase in the particle settling velocity of 20% was observed.