Study of the factors affecting the extraction of soybean protein by reverse micelles.

In this work, the forward and back extraction of soybean protein by reverse micelles was studied. The reverse micellar systems were formed by anionic surfactant sodium bis(2-ethyl hexyl) sulfosuccinate (AOT), isooctane and KCl solution. The effects of AOT concentration, aqueous pH, KCl concentration and phase volume ratio on the extraction efficiency of soybean protein were tested. Suitability of reverse micelles of AOT and Triton-X-100/AOT mixture in organic solvent toluene for soybean protein extraction was also investigated. The experimental results lead to complete forward extraction at the AOT concentration 120 mmol l(-1), aqueous pH 5.5 and KCl concentration 0.8 mol l(-1). The backward extraction with aqueous phase (pH 5.5) resulted in 100% extraction of soybean protein from the organic phase.