Bovine serum albumin partitioning in polyethylene glycol (PEG)/potassium citrate aqueous two-phase systems

The extraction and back-extraction of bovine serum albumin (BSA) have been studied by liquid–liquid extraction with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/potassium citrate aqueous two-phase system (ATPS). In this work, the ATPS was examined with regard to the effects of PEG molecular weight (PEG 1000, 2000, 4000 and 6000), PEG and potassium citrate concentration, BSA concentration (C_BSA) and pH on BSA partition. The pH was found to have significant effects on BSA partition with low molecular weight PEG 1000. The yield of the BSA, 99%, was obtained in the top phase under the following conditions: 19% (w/w) PEG 1000, 20% (w/w) potassium citrate and 0.75 mg/g C_BSA at pH 7.0 and 30 °C. BSA can be re-extracted to a new citrate phase by decreasing the pH of the system with a 92% yield. The back-extraction not only separates the BSA from the polymer, but also allows the polymer to be recycled. The global yield (Y_e + Y_be) is up to 91%.