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Mechanisms of amino acid partitioning in cationic reversed micelles

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Bioseparation

Abstract

The aim of this work is to discuss the mechanisms involved in amino acidsolubilization in cationic reversed micelles. A simple mechanism was assumedin which the amino acid solubilization is mediated by an ion-exchangeprocess between the amino acid and the surfactant counter ion neglecting theeffect of the reversed micellar structure. Based on this mechanism a simplemodel to predict equilibrium was developed and applied to the solubilizationof amino acids with different structures. It was found that solubilizationof hydrophilic and slightly hydrophobic amino acids can be described by anion-exchange mechanism and the amino acid equilibrium concentration can bedetermined for different experimental conditions using this model. However,solubilization of hydrophobic amino acids can not be described by a simpleion-exchange model. In this case hydrophobic contributions play an importantrole in amino acid solubilization and must be considered in the overallsolubilization process. This hydrophobic contribution was evaluated bydetermination of an interfacial partition coefficient. The overall aminoacid extraction was determined using distribution coefficients of all theamino acid forms and considering their dependence on ionic strength.

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Margarida Cardoso, M., Barradas, M.J., Carrondo, M.T. et al. Mechanisms of amino acid partitioning in cationic reversed micelles. Bioseparation 7, 65–78 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008080215915

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