Screening of Reverse Micellar System for the Extraction of Bovine Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional and an iron-binding protein (Mw∼77-80 kDa) present in animal milk. It is an important additive used in milk based infant formula, cosmetics, health supplements, oral care products due to its unique biological attributes. Present global demand of LF is estimated to be around 2, 62,000 kg/year. Reverse micellar extraction, a selective extraction, can be an alternate for chromatography and simulated moving bed (SMB) technology as it overcomes all the difficulties like high process cost and scale-up. Present work focuses on the selection of the suitable reverse micellar system by considering anionic (Bis (2-ethylhexyl) sulphosuccinate sodium salt), cationic (Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) and non-ionic (Trition X 100) surfactants with organic solvents for the extraction of LF from the aqueous solution. All the RMSs were characterized (critical micelle concentration, water content, and micelle size) and their extraction efficiency was analysed. Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide with n-heptanol RMS was founded to offer 100% yield. The identified RMS may be further considered for the commercial extraction of LF from complex biological sources.