ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Elaboration of a novel membrane technique for purification of chondroitin sulfate extracted from chicken breast cartilage using the cross-flow ultrafiltration polyethersulfone flat-sheet membrane

Le-Hai Tran, Mai Thanh Phong, Van-Huy Nguyen, and Thi Anh Dao Dong

Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

E-mail: vhnguyen.ChE@gmail.com

Received: 14 August 2021  Accepted: 28 December 2021

Abstract:

Chondroitin sulfate, which possesses a variety of anti-inflammation, anti-thrombus, anticoagulation, antioxidation, and other bioactivities, is a natural compound of the glycosaminoglycan. To date, it has been extensively applied in many fields, such as biology, biotechnology, foods, and medicine. Notably, it is interested in developing a purification process for chondroitin sulfate to maintain its high quality and purity. In particular, the cross-flow ultrafiltration polyethersulfone flat-sheet membrane technique is potential for the purification of chondroitin sulfate extracted from chicken breast cartilage. Herein, the effects of operational conditions, including molecular weight cutoff (MWCO), operating pressure, filtration time on the membrane performance in terms of permeation flux, rejection of protein, a recovery rate of chondroitin sulfate, separation factor, and chondroitin sulfate purity, are investigated. Besides, the membrane fouling through the purification of chondroitin sulfate is also studied for suggesting a suitable fouling mechanism for ultrafiltration. The results show that the MWCO, operating pressure, and filtration time significantly affect the permeation flux and rejection of protein and chondroitin sulfate. The polyethersulfone-based UF30 membrane with the MWCO of 30 kDa is an excellent membrane for purified chondroitin sulfate. The membrane exhibits the permeation flux of 5.0 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹ and the separation factor of 3.52 under a pressure of 100 psi in 480 min. Furthermore, the standard blocking and cake formation favorably govern the fouling in the purification process. This work provides valuable information on operating parameters for the ultrafiltration polyethersulfone flat-sheet membrane process to extract and purify chondroitin sulfate from chicken breast cartilage.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: Ultrafiltration; Purification; Chondroitin sulfate; Polyethersulfone flat-sheet membrane; Fouling mechanism

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-021-02053-4

Chemical Papers 76 (5) 2691–2701 (2022)