abstract
- © 2017, Springer International Publishing AG. Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) have been studied and used for product recovery and purification from diverse biological sources. ATPS are characterized by their versatility, easy scale-up parameters, process integration capability, and relative low cost. This technique is commonly regarded as a primary recovery stage mainly due to its low selectivity. However, the use of strategies involving the modification of ATPS with affinity ligands has resulted in significant increases in recovery yields and purification folds of biological products. The aim of this chapter is to highlight current applications, trends, and challenges regarding affinity partitioning in aqueous two-phase systems for the fractionation, recovery, and purification of biological products.