Patent ID: 7585955

Claim:
A process for separating a protein from a sample containing a mixture of proteins, the process comprising: combining the aqueous sample with a particulate cation exchange material or anion exchange material to form a first aqueous dispersion in which the particulate ion exchange material is capable of free-flowing movement relative to the remainder of the first aqueous dispersion, the pH of the first aqueous combination being (i) between about 0.5 pH units greater than the pI of the protein and about 5 pH units less than the pI of the protein when the ion exchange material is cation exchange material, and (ii) between about 0.5 pH units less than the pI of the protein and 5 pH units greater than the pI of the protein when the ion exchange material is anion exchange material, intensely mixing the first aqueous dispersion to cause the protein to bind to the ion exchange material and turbulent flow of the sample throughout the ion exchange material; separating the mixed first aqueous dispersion into (i) a concentrated solids fraction containing the ion exchange material and a precipitate of the protein and (ii) an aqueous fraction, and, recovering the protein from the concentrated solids fraction.