The extraction of fibroin protein from Bombyx mori silk cocoon: Optimization of process parameters

Optimization of protein extraction using silk cocoon was carried out by the design of experiment (DOE) to obtain the response surface methodology ( RSM ). Box-Behnken rotatable design was used to create an experimental program to provide data to model the effects of various factors on protein extraction efficiency. The variables chosen were sodium carbonate concentration ( 1 X ), Lithum bromide concentration ( 2 X ) and temperature ( 3 X ). The mathematical relationship between protein extraction efficiency and three significant independent variables can be approximated by a second order quadratic model. RSM was used to describe the individual and interactive effects of three variables at three levels, combined according to a Box-Behnken Design. The coefficient of determination ( 2 R ) for the model is 0.9761. Probability value ( P < 0.0001) demonstrates a very high significance for the regression model indicating that Box-Behnken Design can be applied to the protein extraction from silk cocoon, and it is an economical way of obtaining the maximum amount of information with the fewest experiments.