Protein Adsorption
Application ID: 1397
Ion-exchange is a powerful method to separate proteins from solutions and is today readily used in biotechnological and pharmaceutical industry.
This model simulates an ion-exchange column for protein adsorption. The fluid phase contains four components: two proteins, solvent, and one salt. The adsorption/desorption kinetics is described by two equilibrium reactions where proteins displace ions adsorbed at the surface and vice versa.
The example highlights how reactions at chemical equilibrium can be studied in a 0D reactor system in Reaction Engineering. In addition, it also shows how the kinetics from the 0D setup is exported to a 3D model where the reacting surface in the column can be studied in detail. The 3D model incorporates mass transport through diffusion and convection, and the reactions at the surface of the ion-exchange mass with Transport of Diluted Species, Free and Porous Media Flow, and Surface Reactions interfaces.
This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products:
however, additional products may be required to completely define and model it. Furthermore, this example may also be defined and modeled using components from the following product combinations:
- COMSOL Multiphysics® and
- Chemical Reaction Engineering Module and
- either the Battery Design Module, Chemical Reaction Engineering Module, Corrosion Module, Electrochemistry Module, Electrodeposition Module, or Fuel Cell & Electrolyzer Module
The combination of COMSOL® products required to model your application depends on several factors and may include boundary conditions, material properties, physics interfaces, and part libraries. Particular functionality may be common to several products. To determine the right combination of products for your modeling needs, review the Specification Chart and make use of a free evaluation license. The COMSOL Sales and Support teams are available for answering any questions you may have regarding this.