New Composite, Poly(Hydroxyethylmethacrylate-Expanded Perlite), for Single step Separation of Egg White Lysozyme

In this study, we investigated adsorption behaviour of lysozyme on poly(hydroxyethylmethacrylateexpanded perlite) [P(Hema-Ep)]. For this purpose, we synthesized P(Hema-Ep) composite by bulk polymerization and it was characterized by SEM, FTIR and swelling ratio. The fresh chicken egg white lysozyme was used as a model protein, had an isoelectric point (pI) 10.7 and molecular weight (MW) 14 kDa. Adsorption capacity was found 51 mg g-1 at room temperature and in 0.1 M pH=8.0 phosphate buffer. Experiments on desorption and reusability were also performed. It appears that P(Hema-Ep) composites can be used ten times without lost of efficiency. Lysozyme purification, without causing any denaturation, can be performed from chicken egg white by using this new synthesized composite in a single step.