This project is an experimental and theoretical investigation of phase separations of ternary aqueous protein solutions. The solutions will be studied by static and dynamic light scattering spectroscopy as well as biochemical chromatographic and centrifugation methods. The theoretical studies will use the Carnahan-Starling mixing entropy and a mean field model for the interaction energies in order to construct a Gibbs free energy for the system. This will potentially provide a route to interpretation and prediction of phase boundaries and compositions of coexisting phases. The results will be of significance for the general area of biomolecular materials purification and processing.
