Prediction of lysozyme separation by polyelectrolyte precipitation in mechanically agitated MSMPR reactor

In lysozyme precipitation by polyacrylic acid (PAA) with different molecular weights, the lysozyme separation was predicted using Smoluchowski's collision theory and the micromixing limitation model, plus the model predictions were compared with the experimental data from an MSMPR reactor. Since, in Smoluchowski's theory, ideal mixing was assumed in the solution, the lysozyme separation was only predicted to depend on the PAA properties, such as the PAA dosage and its molecular weights. However, in the micromixing limitation model, the lysozyme separation was represented as being affected by the operational conditions, including the mean residence time and the mixing intensity, in addition to the PAA properties. The difference between the lysozyme separations predicted by each model significantly increased at short residence time and low agitation speed. When compared with the experimental data obtained with various PAA properties and operational conditions, the degree of the lysozyme separation predicted by the micromixing limitation model was found to be in better consistency with the experimental data than that done by Smoluchowski's theory because the operational conditions as well as the PAA properties were included in describing the lysozyme-PAA combination in the reactor.