Interfacial Transport in Reversed Micellar Extraction Processes

该项目包括对反胶束体系中与水接触的相间传质速率和传质机理的理论和实验相结合的研究。阶段。将研究一系列的溶质，从低分子量的水溶性化合物到球形的水溶性蛋白质。根据假设，与蛋白质相反，低分子化合物存在不同的传质机制。对于低分子量化合物，反胶束的形成是由于界面的随机热波动，这种随机热波动周期性地导致部分界面和即时水相分离形成反胶束，一些溶质滞留在内部。对于相对分子质量较高的蛋白质，假设蛋白质接近界面会导致部分界面自发断裂，形成反胶束，蛋白质被困在反胶束中。概述了这两种不同机制的理论模型。这些现象对浓度和温度等因素的依赖程度应该是非常不同的，所以如果能够准确地测量传质速率，就可以很容易地区分它们。为这些实验提出了一种测量传质速率的创新技术：界面干涉法。流体的折射率取决于任何溶解物质的浓度。分束器将被用来使一束相干光的一部分穿过靠近有机和水相界面的一层液体；当与其余的光束相结合时，将产生干涉带，其间隔将与光束通过的溶液层的浓度成比例。通过使用光学工作台和设备仔细地控制平行于接口的光束的位置，以将系统与振动，该技术应该能够准确地确定浓度作为离界面的距离的函数和作为时间的函数。然后，这些数据可以非常准确地转换为质量传输率。结合理论工作，这将给出所研究体系中相间传质的非常完整的图景，并使研究人员能够确定其机理牵涉其中。这一系统对新兴的生物技术行业具有潜在的重要意义。反胶束萃取水溶液中的蛋白质可能会发展成为最通用和最有效的生物分离技术之一。这个项目应该会极大地增加其早期商业应用的潜力。

This project consists of combined theoretical and experimental studies of the rates and mechanisms of interphase mass transfer in reverse micelle systems in contact with an aqueous phase. A range of solutes from low molecular weight, water soluble compounds up to globular, water soluble proteins will be studied. It is hypothesized that a different mechanism for mass transfer exists for low molecular weight compounds as opposed to the proteins. For the low molecular weight compounds it is proposed that reverse micelles form because of random thermal fluctuations of the interface which periodically result in part of the interface and the immediate aqueous phase breaking off to form a reverse micelle with some of the solute trapped in the interior. For the higher molecular weight proteins, it is hypothesized that the approach of the protein to the interface results in the spontaneous breaking off of part of the interface to form a reverse micelle, with the protein trapped in the reverse micelle. Theoretical models for these two different mechanisms have been outlined. The phenomena should exhibit very different dependence on factors such as concentration and temperature, so they should be easily distinguished if the mass transfer rate can be measured accurately. An innovative technique for measuring the mass transfer rate has been proposed for these experiments: interfacial interferometry. The refractive index of a fluid is dependent upon the concentration of any dissolved species. A beam splitter will be used to pass one part of a beam of coherent light through a layer of the liquid close to the interface between the organic and aqueous phases; when joined with the rest of the beam interference bands will be produced whose separation will be proportional to the concentration of the layer of solution through which the beam passed. By carefully controlling the position of the beam parallel to the interface with an optical bench and equipment to isolate the system from vibration, the technique should be able to accurately determine concentration as a function of distance from the interface and as a function of time. This data then can be translated very accurately into mass transfer rates. Combined with the theoretical work, this should give a very complete picture of the interphase mass transfer in the systems studied and should enable the investigator to determine the mechanisms involved. This system is one of potentially great importance to the emerging biotechnology industry. Reverse micelle extraction of proteins from aqueous solution may develop into one of the most versatile and effective bioseparation technologies. This project should add greatly to its potential for early commercial applications.