We are honored to have Dr. Pierre-Yves Pontalier, Professor at the Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse (INPT) in France, as our distinguished speaker in the session of Filtration Advances for Emerging Technologies at the upcoming World Filtration Institute 2024 Annual Virtual Conference (WFI 2024), December 3–4, 2024, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST.
Dr. Pontalier is a professor in Process Engineering at INPT since 1998. He has been working for 30 years in the field of separation processes, with a particular focus on membrane processes and liquid/solid separation. In particular, it has developed new processes for biomass, lignocellulosic biomass, green plants and, more recently, single-cell microorganisms such as bacteria and microalgae. He is the author of 60 peer-reviewed papers, 3 patents and 4 book chapters in the field of liquid/solid separation. He has been president of SF2P society since 2019. He participates to the organization of FPS and FrancoFilt congresses, and he is now president of the organization committee of WFC14.
Title: Advances in Unicellular Protein Purification by Novel Membrane
Date: December 3, 2024
Time: 09:50AM - 10:05AM EST
Abstract
The need for protein is increasing due to population growth and climate change. Microorganisms represent one of the most promising new sources. But protein production involves obtaining a concentrated extract before atomization or precipitation. However, after a cell lysis stage leading to complex extracts, it is necessary to purify the proteins before concentrating them. Depending on the micro-organism, the co-extracted molecules may be polysaccharides or pigments such as chlorophyll. When microalgae are lysed, co-extracted pigments in complex form a layer on the membrane surface, totally altering selectivity and reducing flux. Membranes with a molecular weight cut-off ranging from 10 kDa to 500 kDa showed identical retention rates. A microfiltration step eliminates some of these complexes, but a precipitation step proves more effective, increasing flux by a factor of two. Tests carried out with a 10 kDa membrane showed that it was then possible to obtain two fractions, one enriched with phycocyanin and the other with white proteins. These tests were carried out in a stirred cell, and performance should be improved with tangential filtration membranes.
In the case of bacteria, lysis leads to co-extraction of polymers such as heteropolysaccharides and DNA. Permeate fluxes obtained are much higher than with microalgae, but analytical results show that these membranes lead to the concentration of proteins and DNA. The results confirm that membrane processes are particularly well suited to the concentration of proteins, as in the case of plants, but that for their purification, control of hydrodynamic conditions is essential.
About WFI 2024:
The World Filtration Institute 2024 Annual Conference (WFI 2024) will be held online, December 3–4, 2024, from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM EST. The theme of this conference is "Sustainable Filtration Solutions for a Cleaner and Healthier World." It will be an internationally leading expert conference addressing the latest advances in filtration and separation technologies and their critical roles in healthy living, surrounding environments, and a clean, sustainable world for current and future generations. The virtual conference will feature the following sessions:
1. Sustainable Filtration for A Healthier Indoor Environment
2. Filtration Advances for Emerging Technologies
3. Innovative Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Filtration
4. Circular Economy and Sustainable Water Solutions
5. Regulatory Trends and Standards Updates
6. Artificial Intelligence in Advanced Filtration Solutions