Separation of C-Phycocyanin from Spirulina sp. using the coupled processes of an ion-exchange resin-packed column and ultrafiltration module

C-Phycocyanin (CPC) is a pigment protein produced by cyanobacteria and is commonly used as a food coloring and in cosmetics. For the separation and concentration of CPC, a novel combined process of chromatographic column and ultrafiltration module is proposed. The unit of the column and ultrafiltration module are described mathematically to calculate the combined units as a process. The ion-exchange resin-packed column separated CPC with a purity of 2.0 or higher at a rate of 15 mL per cycle. Ultrafiltration module (MWCO 30 kDa) was operated in desalting mode (diafiltration: DF) and concentration mode (ultrafiltration: UF). DF reduced the salt concentration from an initial concentration of 260 mM to 40 mM, with no proteins leaking from the module. UF increased CPC concentration from 0.82 g/L to 1.48 g/L. Parameters were determined using a mathematical model to simulate the combined process of ion-exchange resin-packed column and ultrafiltration module, and conditions (permeation velocity and time of ultrafiltration) were determined to achieve the desired product characteristics. Different from separation unit operation, combined process of a resin-packed column and ultrafiltration module was capable of separating CPC with approximately twice the productivity of other methods.