Soybean lecithin reversed micelles: an alternative for protein purification

Abstract

In this work, the effect of different parameters for extraction of casein and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were studied. Such proteins were extracted by soybean lecithin reversed micelles. BSA extraction was not effective, independent of the extraction conditions employed. Owing to its molar mass, the effect of exclusion by size was clearly observed. The casein extraction yield increased about 23-fold as a function of agitation time. In other words, the increase occurred by using higher contact time between protein and reversed micelles. The use of hexanol as a co-solvent was effective, and increased casein extraction to 36%. The extraction values were strongly influenced by pH, and the high extraction yield was obtained under the following conditions: 20% at pH 7.9, 80% at pH 5.4 e 100% at pH 5.0 (close to casein isoelectrical point).