Effect of factors on forward extraction of endopolygalacturonase using reverse micelles

Reverse Micellar Extraction (RME) of endopolygalacturonase (endopectinase) from Aspergillus niger using cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) was investigated. The influence of various process factors including aqueous pH, salt and surfactant concentrations on the forward extraction efficiency was studied using one factor at a time method (OFAT). Optimum forward extraction conditions for maximizing efficiencies were in enzyme concentration 500 ppm, pH 8; NaCl concentration 0.10mol.dm−3 and CTAB concentration 150 mmol.dm−3. Under these conditions, forward and backward extraction efficiencies of 71% and 57% were obtained, respectively.