AN ADSORPTION OF BOVINE SERUM ALBUMIN ON CARBON/ZIRCONIUM OXIDE MICROFILTRATION MEMBRANES AT DIFFERENT pH'S AS DETERMINED FROM BREAKTHROUGH CURVES

Adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) at different pHs on carbon supported microfiltration (MF) inorganic membranes was measured by using breakthrough (BT) curves derived from liquid frontal chromatography. Adsorption was quantified in the presence of permeation through the membrane thickness at a constant flow rate. Using the method described, it was confirmed that BSA adsorption is dependent on pH and its maximum is near the BSA isoelectric point ( i.e. pH 4.9). Using Langmuir’s equation, monolayer capacities were determined. It was found that adsorption is of monomolecular type. Analysis of the methods ( called algorithms) used for adsorption calculation was carried out. Monolayer capacities found were generally lower than theoretical BSA monolayer capacity in side-on orientation. It was concluded that such effects as pore blocking, deposition of aggregates inside the membrane or slow formation of dimers were not the main mechanisms of BSA uptake by the MF membranes studied during BT curve formation