PURIFICATION OF ANTIBODIES FROM INDUSTRIALLY SEPARATED EGG-YOLK

Industrially separated egg yolk was diluted and water soluble proteins separated by sedimentation. The supernatant was filtered and applied to a column packed with cation exchanger within an automated liquid ch romatography system. This was scaled-up from a 50 mL to a 1500 mL colu mn. Two cation exchangers were investigated and immunoglobulin recover ies of 60-65% were obtained with 60-69% purities. Batch separation res ulted in lower recovery (55%) and purity (57%). Further purification w as investigated using anion exchange chromatography and salt precipita tion. Results were improved with one step salt precipitation where pur ity was increased. The process is simple, economical and should prove useful for large production of IgY.