title: Electrofiltration as a purification strategy for microbial poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate).
abstract: The biodegradable polyester poly-(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), produced by Ralstonia eutropha in batch and fed-batch processes, was purified by electrofiltration. The protein film on PHB granules determines their high negative zeta potential, enabling the application of electrofiltration as an integrated technology in the downstream processing of PHB. In order to determine the optimal purification parameters, various pressure and electric field strength conditions were tested. Electrofiltration of PHB at 4bars and 4V/mm provided an up to four times higher concentration factor than conventional filtration. FT-Raman spectroscopy demonstrated that electrofiltration did not result in structural changes to the products. The study demonstrates the efficiency and practical advantages of electrofiltration as a promising downstream step in the PHB production technology.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Bioprocess Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Fritz-Haber-Weg 2, Build. 30.44, D-76131 Karlsruhe, Germany. goezde.goezke@kit.edu
authors.forename: Gözde
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gözke
authors.forename: Carolin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prechtl
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kirschhöfer
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mothes
authors.forename: Jelka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ondruschka
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brenner-Weiss
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Obst
authors.forename: Clemens
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Posten
mesh_terms: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques; D018533:Biomass; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D020118:Cupriavidus necator / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid