Cost-efficient protein production enabled by Expanded Bed Adsorption

Expanded Bed Adsorption (EBA) is the most exciting development in the field of bio-molecule separation in more than 50 years.

EBA cuts costs and increases product yields. It substantially reduces the number of unit operations involved in production of bio-molecules from large volume crude feed streams.

EBA captures a target protein from a crude feed stream when it passes through a chromatography column system containing adsorbent beads. Unique surface chemistry on the beads is designed to capture specific proteins and their ultra-high density composition gives EBA a considerable flow rate advantage over the older, packed bed chromatography technologies.

Purpose-designed EBA columns are optimised to work with the ultra-high density adsorbent beads to enable cost-effective large volume crude feed stream processing. Typically, a specific protein can be produced in a one-step operation, thus facilitating rapid development of a new food ingredients business without excessive investment in manufacturing.

Crude feedstock processing at Rhobust® Flex pilot unit. A whole EBA process is shown while the robustness of the EBA system is demonstrated. The same process principles apply for large industrial units.