Abstract
The efficacy of alcohol/sugar aqueous biphasic (ABS) system on protein extraction was investigated. A model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), was adopted to evaluate the effects of types and concentration of phase-forming components, protein concentration, and system pH on the protein partition efficiency. The 1-propanol/maltose ABS exhibited an overall better partition efficiency of BSA to the alcohol-rich top phase. A maximum partition coefficient (K) of 20.01 ± 0.05 and recovery yield (Y) of 95.42% ± 0.01% of BSA were achieved with 35% (w/w) 1-propanol/22% (w/w) maltose ABS at pH 5.0 for 10% (w/w) BSA load. The K and Y of BSA in 1-propanol/maltose ABS was slightly improved with the addition of 3% (w/w) of ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([Bmim]Br) as the adjuvant that could provide protein stabilizing effect. The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrum (FTIR) analysis revealed that the protein structure remained unaltered upon the separation process.