A simple, one step chromatography procedure of general utility for pur
ifying bile salt-activated lipases (BAL; cholesterol esterases) using
a cholate affinity column is described. A key feature of the method is
the use of a taurocholate concentration gradient in the eluent. The m
ethod has been used successfully to purify bovine and porcine BAL from
commercial crude sources and BAL from human milk whey.