Alumina sol-gel membrane for alpha-amylase enzyme separation from solution

Abstract

The preparation method of Alumina filters were studied by using sol-gel technique for separating α-amylase enzyme from the solution. Sol solution was obtained from the reaction of Aluminium secondary butoxide, water and nitric acid at 80-85℃ in mole ratio of 1:100:0.07, respectively. The obtained sol solution was coated on the support for 10 seconds. After that, the made filter was calcined at 600 ℃ for 30 minute to change boehmite to be gramma alumina. The obtained bi-layer membrane has pore size of 73.9 A, pore volume of 0.1322 cm3 /g, and porosity of 48.04%, respectively. The rejection of 0.2% wt. Polyvinyl Alcohol by home made alumina filters is 44.9%. These filters were used to separated α-amylase enzyme from solution, under pressure of 0.3-0.5 bars, enzyme concentration of 1.2-2.4 g/litre, and recirculation velocity of 1.04-1.66 m/sec. It was found that permeation flux increases as enzyme and recirculation velocity increase at average rejection of 67.22%. And it was also found that made membrane can increase enzyme concentration to 44.60% in 120 minutes.