Selective separation and purification of two lipases from chromobacterium viscosum using AOT reversed micelles

Selective separation and purification of two lipases form Chromobacterium viscosum were carried out by liquid‐liquid extraction using a reversed micellar system. Optimum parameters for extraction were determined using a 250 m M AOT micellar solution in isooctane. Complete separation of the two lipases was achieved at pH 6.0 with a 50m M potassium phosphate buffer solution containing 50 m M KCI. By adding 2.5% by volume of ethanol to the lipase‐loaded micellar solution, 85% of the extracted lipase could be recovered in a new aqueous phase, 50 m M K 2 HPO 4 with 50 m M KCl, at pH 9.0. Lipase A was purified 2.6‐fold with a recovery of 86%, and lipase B by 1.5‐fold with a recovery of 76%.