Recovery of extracellular alkaline lipases of Fusarium spec. by foam fractionation

Foam fractionation was used to concentrate and to purify extracellular alkaline lipases produced by Fusarium spec. in submerged cultures supplemented with Tween 80. Gas flow rate and pH-value proved to be crucial process parameters. Maximum recovery rates of lipolytic activity were obtained at 60 mL min-1 N2 and pH 8.5. Under these conditions, > 90% of the total lipase activity was recovered in the foam with enrichment and purification factors of 8.8 and 5.9, respectively. The secreted lipases were characterized biochemically by means of IEF electrophoresis with activity staining and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry.