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Protein and other biomolecules present special challenges for separation. One method for partial purification of proteins from cell extracts is ultrafiltration. Ultrafiltration membranes have pores that separate molecules by molecular weight, but the separation is not perfect. In this process, a batch ultrafiltration operation is performed to partially purify recombinant human DNase (rhDNase) protein from small-molecule contaminants.
A feed stream contains rhDNase (P), contaminants (C) and water (W); the mass fraction of rhDNase in this stream is 0.1%; the mass ratio of contaminants to rhDNase is 4:1. A diluent stream containing only water is added to the feed. The retentate consists of rhDNase, contaminants and water that do not pass through the filter; water makes up 99.8 mass% of the retentate and contaminants are observed to make up 50% of the dry mass. The permeate stream consists of contaminants and water that have passed through the filter; essentially no rhDNase is present. The unit is controlled such that the permeate is twice the mass of the retentate.
Develop a flowsheet for a 1000 kg feed and determine the total masses and the masses of each component in each stream. Look up any terms you do not understand.
No chemical reaction is involved here. It is a problem of simple mass balance. The required balances are shown below.