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.