The goal of this project is to employ microemulsion-based protein extraction (MPE) systems for the rapid, selective, and scalable recovery and purification of proteins. The research plan consists of first investigating the physical chemistry and hydrolysis kinetics of the mixed surfactant systems, to determine difference between this mixed surfactant system with comparable ionic/nonionic mixed systems, and to identify operating conditions for MPE. In addition, the mixed surfactant system will be applied to the MPE of single- and multiple protein systems, the latter systems related to the fractionation of blood plasma proteins. The success of MPE will be evaluated based on productivity (i.e., speed and protein capacity), selectivity, applicability to a wide-range of operating conditions and protein purification challenges, and non-inactivation of protein products. Furthermore, pH-degradable ionic and bioaffinity water-in-oil microemulsions forming surfactants will be synthesized and employed.
