Extraction of proteins from animal tissue using multiphase aqueous systems.

Animal tissue is likely to continue to be an important source of enzymes and protein hormones well into the 21st century. Aqueous phase systems show considerable potential and specific advantages for extractive purification of proteins from animal tissue. Although no industrial process is yet in place for commercial production of a protein from animal tissue, the potential for the system has, however, been demonstrated at laboratory scale for a number of enzymes, and at pilot scale for a few, using simple phase systems and also affinity partitioning systems. Pertinent features of these systems are reviewed, and process and economic aspects discussed.