Extraction Separation of BSA in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems of Anionic and Cationic Surfactant Mixtures

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) are formed in mixtures of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), and sodium bromide (NaBr). Two different kinds of ATPS appear when CTAB and SDS surfactants are in excess, respectively. Such ATPS may provide a new, useful partitioning system for separation of bovine serum albumin (BSA). The partitioning of BSA was studied in these systems. The results show that the partitioning is affected by the electrical property, the hydrophobicity and the structure of liquid crystal (LC), which exists in the top phase of the ATPS. BSA is extracted into the top phase with higher distribution coefficient when LC and BSA are oppositely charged. The hydrophobicity of LC, which can be improved by increasing the length of alkyl group, enhances the distribution coefficient. The hydrophobicity of lamellar LC and hexagonal LC is stronger than that of cubic LC, which causes extractive capability of the former is higher than the latter.     

Partitioning in Aqueous Two-Phase Systems: Fundamentals,Applications and Trends

Over the last years, aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) regained an increasing interest due to their potential in the downstream processing of biomolecules. After many years with only a few articles published, a lot of effort and work has been put into studying these systems for the partitioning of a range of compounds including proteins, organic low-molecular weight molecules or metal ions. Although several research and review articles appeared, a background review on ATPS partitioning fundamentals is needed. In this article, partitioning theories and main effects of several important factors for partitioning, such as molecular weight of the polymer, effect of added salts, pH, electrical charges, and temperature on phase diagrams, tie-line lengths, interfacial tension and settling time of the two aqueous phases are extensively reviewed. The trend in ATPS research is given compiling the recent 2008–2013 research articles published in the field.     

蛋白质在表面活性剂与高分子共组双水相体系中 的分配

高分子和正负离子表面活性剂混合物可形成一种新型双水相体系。研究蛋白质在溴化十二烷基三乙铵/十二烷基硫酸钠与聚氧乙烯(EO)-聚氧丙烯(PO)嵌段共聚物(EO~2~0PO~8~0)共组双水相体系中的分配。通过在高分子接上亲和配基,研究蛋白质在带有亲和配基高分子的双水相体系中的分配。将表面活性剂富集相稀释或加热高分子富集相,又可形成新的双水相体系,由此可进行蛋白质的多步分配。在蛋白质的分配完成之后,通过将表面活性剂富集相进一步稀释或将高分子富集相加热至高分子浊点以上可将表面活性剂和高分子与目标蛋白质分离。正负离子表面活性剂和高分子还可以循环使用。     

Aqueous two-phase systems: An efficient,environmentally safe and economically viable method for purification of natural dye carmine

Partition of the natural dye carmine has been studied in aqueous two-phase systems prepared by mixing aqueous solutions of polymer or copolymer with aqueous salt solutions (Na₂SO₄ and Li₂SO₄). The carmine dye partition coefficient was investigated as a function of system pH, polymer molar mass, hydrophobicity, system tie-line length and nature of the electrolyte. It has been observed that the carmine partition coefficient is highly dependent on the electrolyte nature and pH of the system, reaching values as high as 300, indicating the high potential of the two-phase extraction with ATPS in the purification of carmine dye. The partition relative order was Li₂SO₄ ? Na₂SO₄. Carmine molecules were concentrated in the polymer-rich phase, indicating an enthalpic specific interaction between carmine and the pseudopolycation, which is formed by cation adsorption along the macromolecule chain. When the enthalpic carmine–pseudopolycation interaction decreases, entropic forces dominate the natural dye-transfer process, and the carmine partitioning coefficient decreases. The optimization of the extraction process was obtained by a central composite face-centered (CCF) design. The CCF design was used to evaluate the influence of Li₂SO₄ and PEO 1500 concentration and of the pH on the partition coefficient of carmine. The conditions that maximize the partition of carmine into the top phase were determined to be high concentrations of PEO and Li₂SO₄ and low pH values within the ranges studied.     

The influence of temperature on the phase behavior of ionic liquid aqueous two-phase systems

In this article, the equilibrium behavior of solutions of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dimethyl phosphate ([Emim]DMP) and ethyl acetate or acetone in aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was discussed to understand the liquid–liquid equilibrium (LLE) behavior of these organic solvents. Thus, we determined phase diagrams and LLE data at 303.15, 308.15, 313.15, and 323.15 K for the investigated biphasic systems. Four empirical equations were used to study the tie lines. The results showed that for the [Emim]DMP?+?acetone?+?water biphasic systems within the investigated temperature range, temperature influences the phase behavior, but for the [Emim]DMP?+?ethyl acetate?+?water biphasic systems within the investigated temperature range, there are no notable changes on the phase behavior with rising temperature. The results may have important applications for the separation of antibiotics and for the recovery of ionic liquids (ILs).     

PEO-[M(CN)5NO](x-) (M = Fe, Mn, or Cr) interaction as a driving force in the partitioning of the pentacyanonitrosylmetallate anion in ATPS: strong effect of the central atom

The partitioning behavior of pentacyanonitrosilmetallate complexes[Fe(CN) 5NO] (2-), [Mn(CN) 5NO] (3-), and [Cr(CN) 5NO] (3-)has been studied in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) formed by adding poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO; 4000 g mol (-1)) to an aqueous salt solution (Li 2SO 4, Na 2SO 4, CuSO 4, or ZnSO 4). The complexes partition coefficients ( K complex) in each of these ATPS have been determined as a function of increasing tie-line length (TLL) and temperature. Unlike the partition behavior of most ions, [Fe(CN) 5NO] (2-) and [Mn(CN) 5NO] (3-) anions are concentrated in the polymer-rich phase with K values depending on the nature of the central atom as follows: K [ F e ( C N ) 5 N O ] 2 - > K [ M n ( C N ) 5 N O ] 3 - > K [ C r ( C N ) 5 N O ] 3 - . The effect of ATPS salts in the complex partitioning behavior has also been verified following the order Li 2SO 4 > Na 2SO 4 > ZnSO 4. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the presence of anions in the polymer-rich phase is caused by an EO-[M(CN) 5NO] ( x- ) (M = Fe, Mn, or Cr) enthalpic interaction. However, when this enthalpic interaction is weak, as in the case of the [Cr(CN) 5NO] (3-) anion ( K [ C r ( C N ) 5 N O ] 3 - < 1), entropic driving forces dominate the transfer process, then causing the anions to concentrate in the salt-rich phase.     

Aqueous two-phase systems for protein separation: a perspective

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) that are formed by mixing a polymer (usually polyethylene glycol, PEG) and a salt (e.g. phosphate, sulphate or citrate) or two polymers and water can be effectively used for the separation and purification of proteins. The partitioning between both phases is dependent on the surface properties of the proteins and on the properties of the two phase system. The mechanism of partitioning is complex and not very easy to predict but, as this review paper shows, some very clear trends can be established. Hydrophobicity is the main determinant in the partitioning of proteins and can be measured in many different ways. The two methods that are more attractive, depending on the ATPS used (PEG/salt, PEG/polymer), are those that consider the 3-D structure and the hydrophobicity of AA on the surface and the one based on precipitation with ammonium sulphate (parameter 1/m*). The effect of charge has a relatively small effect on the partitioning of proteins in PEG/salt systems but is more important in PEG/dextran systems. Protein concentration has an important effect on the partitioning of proteins in ATPS. This depends on the higher levels of solubility of the protein in each of the phases and hence the partitioning observed at low protein concentrations can be very different to that observed at high concentrations. In virtually all cases the partition coefficient is constant at low protein concentration (true partitioning) and changes to a different constant value at a high overall protein concentration. Furthermore, true partitioning behavior, which is independent of the protein concentration, only occurs at relatively low protein concentration. As the concentration of a protein exceeds relatively low values, precipitation at the interface and in suspension can be observed. This protein precipitate is in equilibrium with the protein solubilized in each of the phases. Regarding the effect of protein molecular weight, no clear trend of the effect on partitioning has been found, apart from PEG/dextran systems where proteins with higher molecular weights partitioned more readily to the bottom phase. Bioaffinity has been shown in many cases to have an important effect on the partitioning of proteins. The practical application of ATPS has been demonstrated in many cases including a number of industrial applications with excellent levels of purity and yield. This separation and purification has also been successfully used for the separation of virus and virus-like particles.     

Phase equilibrium in aqueous two-phase systems containing ethylene oxide–propylene oxide block copolymers and dextran

Phase equilibrium of aqueous two-phase systems containing the polysaccharide dextran and ethylene oxide (EO)/propylene oxide (PO) triblock copolymers was investigated in this work. Phase diagrams at 25.0 °C were experimentally obtained for systems formed by either dextran 19 (average molar mass of 8200 g mol⁻¹) or dextran 400 (average molar mass of 236 kg mol⁻¹) and one of the following block copolymers F38, F68, F108, P105 and P103, which present different structures in terms of EO/PO ratios and molar masses. It was possible to assess the influence of the polymer features on the phase equilibrium: the main factors affecting phase equilibrium being the size of dextran molecule and the structure (mainly the EO/PO ratio) of the copolymer. The Flory–Huggins equation was used to correlate the experimental data with good qualitative agreement, allowing the inference that changes in the copolymer hydrophobicity are the main responsible for the observed phase diagrams.     

Purification of protein and recycling of polymers in a new aqueous two-phase system using two thermoseparating polymers

In this study we present a new aqueous two-phase system where both polymers are thermoseparating. In this system it is possible to recycle both polymers by temperature induced phase separation, which is an improvement of the aqueous two-phase system previously reported where one of the polymers was thermoseparating and the other polymer was dextran or a starch derivative. The polymers used in this work are EO50PO50, a random copolymer of 50% ethylene oxide (EO) and 50% propylene oxide (PO), and a hydrophobically modified random copolymer of EO and PO with aliphatic C14H29-groups coupled to each end of the polymer (HM-EOPO). In water solution both polymers will phase separate above a critical temperature (cloud point for EO50PO50 50 degrees C, HM-EOPO, 14 degrees C) and this will for both polymers lead to formation of an upper water phase and a lower polymer enriched phase. When EO50PO50 and HM-EOPO are mixed in water, the solution will separate in two phases above a certain concentration i.e. an aqueous two-phase system is formed analogous to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)/dextran system. The partitioning of three proteins, bovine serum albumin, lysozyme and apolipoprotein A-1, has been studied in the EO50PO50/HM-EOPO system and how the partitioning is affected by salt additions. Protein partitioning is affected by salts in similar way as in traditional PEG/dextran system. Recombinant apolipoprotein A-1 has been purified from a cell free E. coli fermentation solution. Protein concentrations of 20 and 63 mg/ml were used, and the target protein could be concentrated in the HM-EOPO phase with purification factors of 6.6 and 7.3 giving the yields 66 and 45%, respectively. Recycling of both copolymers by thermoseparation was investigated. In protein free systems 73 and 97.5% of the EO50PO50 and HM-EOPO polymer could be recycled respectively. Both polymers were recycled after aqueous two-phase extraction of apolipoprotein A-1 from a cell free E. coli fermentation solution. Apolipoprotein A-1 was extracted to the HM-EOPO phase with contaminating proteins in the EO50PO50 phase. The yield (78%) and purification factor (5.5) of apolipoprotein A-1 was constant during three polymer recyclings. This new phase system based on two thermoseparating polymers is of great interest in large scale extractions where polymer recycling is of increasing importance.     

Application of central composite design to the optimisation of aqueous two-phase extraction of human antibodies

The partition of human antibodies in aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and phosphate was systematically studied using first pure proteins systems and then an artificial mixture of proteins containing 1mg/ml human immunoglobulin G (IgG), 10mg/ml serum albumin and 2mg/ml myoglobin. Preliminary results obtained using pure proteins systems indicated that the PEG molecular weight and concentration, the pH value and the salts concentration had a pronounced effect on the partitioning behaviour of all proteins. For high ionic strengths and pH values higher than the isoelectric point (pI) of the contaminant proteins, IgG could be selectively recovered on the top phase. According to these results, a face centred composite design was performed in order to optimise the purification of IgG from the mixture of proteins. The optimal conditions for the isolation of IgG were observed for high concentrations of NaCl and low concentrations of both phase forming components. The best purification was achieved using an ATPS containing 8% (w/w) PEG 3350, 10% (w/w) phosphate pH 6 and 15% (w/w) NaCl. A recovery yield of 101+/-7%, a purity of 99+/-0% and a yield of native IgG of 97+/-4% were obtained. Back extraction studies of IgG to a new phosphate phase were performed and higher yields were obtained using 10% phosphate buffer at pH 6. The total extraction yield was 76% and the purity 100%.     

Micelles from PEO-PPO-PEO block copolymers as nanocontainers for solubilization of a poorly water soluble drug hydrochlorothiazide

The effect of molecular characteristics of EO-PO triblock copolymers viz. Pluronic(?) P103 (EO(17)PO(60)PEO(17)), P123 (EO(19)PO(69)EO(19)), and F127 (EO(100)PO(65)EO(100)) on micellar behavior and solubilization of a diuretic drug, hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) was investigated. The critical micellization temperatures (CMTs) and size for empty as well as drug loaded micelles are reported. The CMTs and micelle size depended on the hydrophobicity and molecular weight of the copolymer; a decrease in CMT and increase in size was observed on solubilization. The solubilization of the drug hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) in the block copolymer nanoaggregates at different temperatures (28, 37, 45°C), pH (3.7, 5.0, 6.7) and in the presence of added salt (NaCl) was monitored by using UV-vis spectroscopy and solubility data were used to calculate the solubilization characteristics; micelle-water partition coefficient (P) and thermodynamic parameters of solubilization viz. Gibbs free energy (ΔG(s)°), enthalpy (ΔH(s)°) and entropy (ΔS(s)°). The solubility of the drug in copolymer increases with the trend: P103>P123>F127. The solubilized drug decreased the cloud point (CP) of copolymers. Results show that the drug solubility increases in the presence of salt but significantly enhances with the increase in the temperature and at a lower pH in which drug remains in the non-ionized form.     

Aqueous two-phase systems containing self-associating block copolymers. Partitioning of hydrophilic and hydrophobic biomolecules.

A series of proteins and one membrane-bound peptide have been partitioned in aqueous two-phase systems consisting of micelle-forming block copolymers from the family of Pluronic block copolymers as one polymer component and dextran T500 as the other component. The Pluronic molecule is a triblock copolymer of the type PEO-PPO-PEO, where PEO and PPO are poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide), respectively. Two different Pluronic copolymers were used, P105 and F68, and the phase diagrams were determined at 30 degrees C for these polymer systems. Since the temperature is an important parameter in Pluronic systems (the block copolymers form micellar-like aggregates at higher temperatures) the partitioning experiments were performed at 5 and 30 degrees C, to explore the effect of temperature-triggered micellization on the partitioning behaviour. The temperatures correspond to the unimeric (single Pluronic chain) and the micellar states of the P105 polymer at the concentrations used. The degree of micellization in the F68 system was lower than that in the P105 system, as revealed by the phase behaviour. A membrane-bound peptide, gramicidin D, and five different proteins were partitioned in the above systems. The proteins were lysozyme, bovine serum albumin, cytochrome c, bacteriorhodopsin and the engineered B domain of staphylococcal protein A, named Z. The Z domain was modified with tryptophan-rich peptide chains in the C-terminal end. It was found that effects of salt dominated over the temperature effect for the water-soluble proteins lysozyme, bovine serum albumin and cytochrome c. A strong temperature effect was observed in the partitioning of the integral membrane protein bacteriorhodopsin, where partitioning towards the more hydrophobic Pluronic phase was higher at 30 degrees C than at 5 degrees C. The membrane-bound peptide gramicidin D partitioned exclusively to the Pluronic phase at both temperatures. The following trends were observed in the partitioning of the Z protein. (i) At the higher temperature, insertion of tryptophan-rich peptides increased the partitioning to the Pluronic phase. (ii) At the lower temperature, lower values of K were observed for ZT2 than for ZT1.     

Effect of salt additives on partition of nonionic solutes in aqueous PEG-sodium sulfate two-phase system

Partition of 12 nonionic organic compounds in aqueous PEG-8000-Na(2)SO(4) two-phase system was examined. Effects of four salt additives (NaCl, NaSCN, NaClO(4), and NaH(2)PO(4)) in the concentration range from 0.027 up to ca. 1.9 M on binodal curve of PEG-sulfate two-phase system and solute partitioning were explored. It was found that different salt additives at the relatively high concentrations display different effects on both phase separation and partition of various nonionic solutes. Analysis of the results indicates that the PEG-Na(2)SO(4) ATPS with the up to 0.215 M NaCl concentration may be viewed as similar to the ATPS without NaCl in terms of the Collander equation's predictive ability of the partitioning behavior of nonionic compounds. All ATPS with each of the salt additive used at the concentration of 0.027 M may be viewed as similar to each other as the Collander equation holds for partition coefficients of nonionic solutes in these ATPS. Collander equation is valid also for the compounds examined in the ATPS with additives of NaSCN and NaClO(4) at the concentrations up to 0.215 M. The observed similarity between these ATPS might be explained by the similar effects of these two salts on the water structure. At concentrations of the salt additives exceeding the aforementioned values, different effects of salt additives on partitioning of various nonionic solutes are displayed. In order to explain these effects of salt additives it is necessary to examine the intensities of different solute-solvent interactions in these ATPS within the framework of the so-called Linear Solvation Energy Relationship (LSER) model.     

Partitioning of lactate dehydrogenase from bovine heart crude extract by polyethylene glycol-citrate aqueous two-phase systems

Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) composed of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-citrate have been used for enzyme partitioning studies. The behavior of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from bovine heart crude extract was analyzed using a two-level factorial design in which the PEG molar mass and concentration, the citrate concentration were selected as independent variables, while the purification factor, the partition coefficient (K) and the activity yield were selected as responses. The statistical analysis revealed the effect of PEG molar mass on K. LDH exhibited a better partitioning toward PEG-rich phase and the highest K value (1079.81) was obtained with 42% (w/w) PEG 400 and 7.5% (w/w) citrate concentration. PEG molar mass also influenced the purification factor of the enzyme in the top phase. Possibly these ATPS remove inhibitors present in the extract affording higher enzyme yield.     

Dynamic Spatial Formation and Distribution of Intrinsically Disordered Protein Droplets in Macromolecularly Crowded Protocells

Elastin‐like polypeptides (ELPs) have been proposed as a simple model of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) which can form membraneless organelles by liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in cells. Herein, the behavior of fluorescently labeled ELP is studied in cytomimetic aqueous two‐phase system (ATPS) encapsulated protocells that are formed using microfluidics, which enabled confinement, changes in temperature, and statistical analysis. The spatial organization of ELP could be observed in the ATPS. Furthermore, changes in temperature triggered the dynamic formation and distribution of ELP‐rich droplets within the ATPS, resulting from changes in conformation. Proteins were encapsulated along with ELP in the synthetic protocells and distinct partitioning properties of these proteins and ELP in the ATPS were observed. Therefore, the ability of ELP to coacervate with temperature can be maintained inside a cell‐mimicking system.     

外加盐作用形成的正负离子表面活性剂双水相

癸基三乙基溴化铵-癸基磺酸钠（C10NE-C10SO3）等摩尔混合均相体系（即使在表面活性剂总浓度高达0.2 mol•L－1时仍然可形成稳定的均相溶液）在外加盐NaF、Na2SO4和Na3PO4的作用下可自发分离成两个水相（双水相）.研究了该类双水相体系的形成、相行为及其对牛血清蛋白（BSA）的分配，并与普通的正负离子表面活性剂混合双水相体系进行了比较.结果表明，该类双水相体系克服了普通的正负离子表面活性剂混合双水相体系的一些不足，具有一些独特的优点.该类双水相体系的相行为可以通过外加盐进行调控,通过外加盐的种类来调控和优化BSA的分配行为.图1表2参8     

Affinity partitioning of human antibodies in aqueous two-phase systems

The partitioning of human immunoglobulin (IgG) in a polymer-polymer and polymer-salt aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) in the presence of several functionalised polyethylene glycols (PEGs) was studied. As a first approach, the partition studies were performed with pure IgG using systems in which the target protein remained in the bottom phase when the non-functionalised systems were tested. The effect of increasing functionalised PEG concentration and the type of ligand were studied. Afterwards, selectivity studies were performed with the most successful ligands first by using systems containing pure proteins and an artificial mixture of proteins and, subsequently, with systems containing a Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells supernatant. The PEG/phosphate ATPS was not suitable for the affinity partitioning of IgG. In the PEG/dextran ATPS, the diglutaric acid functionalised PEGs (PEG-COOH) displayed great affinity to IgG, and all IgG could be recovered in the top phase when 20% (w/w) of PEG 150-COOH and 40% (w/w) PEG 3350-COOH were used. The selectivity of these functionalised PEGs was evaluated using an artificial mixture of proteins, and PEG 3350-COOH did not show affinity to IgG in the presence of typical serum proteins such as human serum albumin and myoglobin, while in systems with PEG 150-COOH, IgG could be recovered with a yield of 91%. The best purification of IgG from the CHO cells supernatant was then achieved in a PEG/dextran ATPS in the presence of PEG 150-COOH with a recovery yield of 93%, a purification factor of 1.9 and a selectivity to IgG of 11. When this functionalised PEG was added to the ATPS, a 60-fold increase in selectivity was observed when compared to the non-functionalised systems.     

Solvatochromic relationship: Prediction of distribution of ionic solutes in aqueous two-phase systems

Partition ratios of several ionic compounds in 20 different polymer/polymer aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) containing 0.15 M NaCl in 0.01 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, were determined. The differences between the electrostatic properties of the phases in all the ATPS were estimated from partitioning of the homologous series of dinitrophenylated-amino acids. Also the solvatochromic solvent parameters characterizing the solvent dipolarity/polarizability (π*), solvent hydrogen-bond donor acidity (α), and solvent hydrogen-bond acceptor basicity (β) of aqueous media were measured in the coexisting phases of the ATPS. The solute-specific coefficients for the compounds examined were determined by the multiple linear regression analysis using the modified linear solvation energy relationship equation. The minimal number of ATPS necessary for determination of the coefficients was established and 10 ATPS were selected as a reference ATPS set. The solute-specific coefficients values obtained with this reference set of ATPS were used to predict the partition ratios for the compounds in 10 ATPS not included in the reference set. The predicted partition ratios values were compared to those determined experimentally and found to be in good agreement. It is concluded that the presented model of solute–solvent interactions as the driving force for solute partitioning in polymer/polymer ATPS describes experimental observations with 90–95% accuracy.     

Exploitation of the coil-globule plasmid DNA transition induced by small changes in temperature, pH salt, and poly(ethylene glycol) compositions for directed partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems

In this study, the interplay of two linked equilibria is examined, one concerning an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) composed of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and salt employed to partition plasmid DNA (pDNA), and the other a potential structural transition of pDNA depending on PEG and salt concentration and other system parameters. The boundary conditions for pDNA partitioning are set by PEG and salt concentrations, PEG molecular weight, pH, and temperature. While investigating these parameters, it was found that a small increase/decrease of the respective values led to a drastic and significant change in pDNA behavior. This behavior could be attributed to a coil-globule transition of the pDNA triggered by the respective phase conditions. The combination of this structural change, aggregation effects linked to the transition process, and the electrostatic potential difference found in PEG-salt systems thus offers a sensitive way to separate nucleic acid forms on the basis of their unique property to undergo coil-globule transitions under distinct system properties.     

Partitioning behavior of amino acids in aqueous two-phase systems containing polyethylene glycol and phosphate buffer

The partitioning behavior of four amino acids, cysteine, phenylalanine, methionine, and lysine in 15 aqueous two-phase systems (ATPSs) with different polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecular weights and phosphate buffers has been studied in the present paper. The phase diagrams of the systems are investigated together with the effect of the PEG molecular weight and pH of the phosphate solutions. The composition of these systems and some parameters such as density and refractive index are determined. The influences of salts in ATPSs, side chain structure of the amino acids, pH of ATPSs, and the PEG molecular weight on the distribution ratios of the amino acids have been studied. This work is useful for the purification of amino acids and the separation of some proteins whose main surface exposed amino acid residues are these four amino acids, respectively.