The use of column flotation in the downstream processing of fermentation products

lotation has been considered a unit operation with a largely unexplored potential in biotechnology. There is a general lack of studies concerning its application in the recovery of fermentation products. This work is the study of column flotation for the recovery of products of fermentation.;Two approaches for the application of column flotation in biotechnology were addressed in this work. First, a unique separation of a product was accomplished by recognizing the natural floatability of a particulate separation system previously determined. A process to recover Bacillus stearothermophilus ;The second approach for application of flotation in biotechnology, the design and preparation of a flotation system to perform separation of proteins based on specific type of interaction between a product and a ligand, was also developed in this work. Hydrophobic interaction between albumin and hydrophobic groups was selected for the system developed. First, derivatives of methylcellulose with fatty acids were prepared by esterification. After characterization, the derivatives were tested in the precipitation of bovine serum albumin. One of the derivatives was shown to be efficient in the precipitation of the protein. The predictability of the recovery of the protein by flotation was good despite low floatability due to the large concentration of salt and protein.;References. Summerfelt, S. T. The concentration and the purification of an...