Patent ID: 7427659

Claim:
A method for separating a target protein from a mixture containing the target protein and non-target protein contaminants, comprising: a) contacting the mixture with a hydrophobic adsorbent comprising branched alkyl functional groups having from 4 to about 8 carbon atoms, at least one of which is a tertiary carbon atom, in an aqueous salt solution under loading conditions that permit the non-target protein contaminants to bind to the adsorbent and the target protein to pass through the hydrophobic adsorbent in a flow-through fraction without binding to the hydrophobic adsorbent, wherein the loading condition comprises a pH of from about 5 to about 8.6; b) allowing the target protein to pass through the hydrophobic adsorbent in the flow-through fraction portion of the mixture; and c) collecting the flow-through fraction portion of the mixture containing the target protein that does not bind to the hydrophobic adsorbent.