Partitioning of cellulolytic activity in the polyethylene glycol/dextran two-phase systems

This study is concerned with the partitioning of cellulolytic activity in the polyethylene glycol/dextran two-phase systems. In the system of 10% (w/w) polyethylene glycol 1500/5% (w/w) dextran 500,000/80% (w/w) crude enzyme at the pH 5, 100%, yield of cellulolytic activity from Penicillium sp. in the top phase was achieved in a single extraction step. Addition of KH2PO4 to this system at a concentration of 15 mmol/L improved the purification factor in the top phase for cellulolytic activity from crude preparation to a value of 2.6, although it had an adverse effect on the yield in the same phase.