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Efficient separation of phycocyanin of Nostoc commune by multistep diafiltration using ultra-filtration membrane modules

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Abstract

Diafiltration (DF) is a separation method used to separate and concentrate macromolecules, such as polysaccharides and proteins. To obtain high-purity target molecules by DF, appropriate conditions should be used. In this study, a mathematical model was developed to suggest appropriate ultra-filtration (UF) membrane modules for the separation of phycocyanin (PC) by multistep DF. PC is a protein produced by microalgae. The contribution of each UF membrane module to PC productivity and purity at each stage of the multistep DF process was quantified by the proposed model. The parameters required as model inputs (k, Fα1, and Fα2) were experimentally determined by permeating PC-containing solution through UF membrane modules (150, 30, and 10 kDa cutoffs). The resulting analytical solutions and those predicted by the model were in close agreement. The PC purity increased from 0.20 to 0.30 when a 10 kDa UF membrane module was used in two-step DF. An orthogonal table was used to determine the combination of UF membrane modules needed to achieve higher purity of PC. The model predicted that the 30 kDa UF membrane module would have the highest contribution to PC productivity and purity at any position in a three-step DF. The developed model can help identify appropriate conditions for separating macromolecules by DF.

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Data availability

The data that have been used are confidential.

Abbreviations

A :

Membrane module surface area, m2

ABS 280 :

Absorbance at 280 nm

ABS 618 :

Absorbance at 618 nm

C 0 :

Concentration of feed, g/m3

C A :

Concentration of protein in tank, g/m3

C PC :

Concentration of PC, g/m3

C Total :

Concentration of total protein, g/m3

C X :

Concentration of biomolecule X, g/m3

C α1 :

Concentration of filtrate from UF membrane module, g/m3

C α2 :

Concentration of concentrate from UF membrane module, g/m3

F 0 :

Flow rate of feed, m3/s

F A :

Flow rate of product, m3/s

F α1 :

Flow rate of filtrate from UF membrane module, m3/s

F α2 :

Flow rate of concentrate from UF membrane module, m3/s

J (t) :

Flux of permeate from UF membrane module, m/s

k :

Protein permeation coefficient

l :

Optical path length, cm

t :

Permeation time, s

V A :

Solution volume in tank, m3

V :

Volume of permeate, m3

ε 280 :

Extinction coefficient of PC at 280 nm, cm2/mg

ε 618 :

Extinction coefficient of protein at 618 nm, cm2/mg

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Acknowledgements

The analysis of materials was supported by the Analytical Research Center for Experimental Sciences, Saga University. We thank Katherine Thieltges from Edanz (https://jp.edanz.com/ac) for editing a draft of this manuscript.

Funding

This study was partially supported by the Saga University Algae Research Project, Saga University, Japan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Saga University, Saga, 840-8502, Japan

    Takanori Hidane, Shintaro Morisada, Keisuke Ohto & Hidetaka Kawakita

  2. Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University, Saga, 840-8502, Japan

    Mikihide Demura

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  1. Takanori Hidane
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  2. Mikihide Demura
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  3. Shintaro Morisada
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  4. Keisuke Ohto
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  5. Hidetaka Kawakita
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Contributions

TH: Methodology, Formal analysis, and Writing – Original Draft. MD: Resources, Methodology, Conceptualization. SM: Methodology. KO: Methodology, Conceptualization. HK: Conceptualization, Resources, Writing – Review & Editing.

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Correspondence to Hidetaka Kawakita.

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Hidane, T., Demura, M., Morisada, S. et al. Efficient separation of phycocyanin of Nostoc commune by multistep diafiltration using ultra-filtration membrane modules. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 46, 1447–1456 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-023-02911-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-023-02911-3

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