Modeling of adsorption process of whey proteins in tanks shaken

Abstract

It was developed a numerical procedure for the solution of the mass transfer model of adsorption in stirred tanks that considers intraparticle diffusion, mass transfer resistance in the liquid film at the particle surface and local equilibrium. The model was capable of simulating quickly, with a simulation time varying from 10 seconds to 47 seconds, the simultaneous adsorption of whey proteins, α-lactalbumin (α-la) and β-lactoglobulin (β-lg), by an ionic exchange resin. The comparison of experimental and simulated kinetic curves showed that the model is adequate for the study of these systems. From the developed model some simulations were made to study the effect of the mass transfer parameters, diffusion coefficient and mass transfer coefficient, in the adsorption kinetics of proteins α-la and β-lg.