The application of a combined system of a polyelectrolyte, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and highly fibrillated fibrous materials, cellulose triacetate fibrets (CTF), for the recovery of proteins and other biological compounds from model and actual biological systems has been demonstrated . In the present work, reaction batches were scaled-up to a one-liter agitated vessel, with a standard configuration. The effect of mixing conditions on the adsorption and flocculation process was studied. It was observed that flocculation time was very fast, occurring within the period of polymer addition. Long term shearing did not result in floc breakage and the values of percentage light transmission and protein concentration of the final filtrate remained the same during the incubation period. Increasing the shear rate resulted in improved process efficiency, up to an optimum value, above which performance was poorer. Perikinetic and orthokinetic rate parameters were calculated and results analyzed in view of these parameters.
Fibrous materials; polyelectrolytes; flocculation; perikinetic; orthokinetic; mixing conditions
