Mark R. Etzel Associate Professor Address/E-mail Program Affiliations Education Fields of Interest Publications Summary

Contact Information

A17 Babcock Hall 1605 Linden Drive Madison, WI 53706

Tel: 608/263-2083 Fax: 608/262-6872 E-mail: etzel@che.wisc.edu

Program Affiliations

• Chemical and Biological Engineering
• Food Science

• Biotechnology Center
• Center for Dairy Research

Education

• B.S., Chemical Engineering, Purdue University
• Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of California at Berkeley

Fields of Interest

• bioseparation processes
• bioprocessing and food engineering
• mass transfer

Publications

• "A Mathematical Analysis of Affinity Membrane Bioseparations," (with S.-Y. Suen), Chem. Eng. Sci., 47 (6), 1355-1364 (1992).
• "Purification of Bovine Immunoglobulin G via Protein G Affinity Membranes," (with J.E. Kochan and Y.-J. Wu), Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 35 (4), 1150-1155 (1996).
• "Mass Transfer Limitations in Protein Separations Using Ion Exchange Membranes," (with F.T. Sarfert), J. Chromat., 764, 3-20 (1997).
• "Fractionation of Lactoperoxidase and Lactoferrin from Bovine Whey Using a Cation Exchange Membrane," (with C. K. Chiu), J. Food Sci., 62 (5), 996-1000 (1997).
• "In Vitro Characterization of a Membrane-Based Low-Density Lipoprotein Affinity Adsorption Device," (with P.J. Soltys), Blood Purification, 16 (3), 123-134 (1998).
• "Analysis of Protein Purification Using Ion-Exchange Membranes," (with H. Yang and M. Bitzer), Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., in press.
• "Adsorption of LDL and Gold Immunoconjugates to Affinity Membranes Containing PEG Spacers," (with P.J. Soltys), Biomaterials, in press.

Summary

The goal of our research is to develop new bioseparation processes for the production of biopharmaceuticals and food products, and for the production of a new class of food products called "nutraceuticals," i. e. foods that have special medical and health benefits. Our research results are also broadly useful in developing new and improved products for the health care industry. Consequently, we work closely with individuals in the biopharmaceutical, food, and health care industries in this research.

Many of the newest and most promising biotechnology products are proteins, e. g. clotting factors for hemophiliacs, antibodies for cancer patients, or enzymes for victims of heart attacks. As an example of protein purification in the health care industry, we have developed immunoaffinity membranes for the removal of low density lipoprotein (LDL) from the blood of patients with hypercholesterolemia. The bioseparation processes we develop are to purify proteins using affinity and ion-exchange membranes. We aim to theoretically and experimentally determine the role of kinetic and transport processes in the performance and design of these membranes and to develop new, more optimal processes for protein purification.