Patent ID: 8138306

Claim:
A method of separating one or more proteins from an aqueous solution, which method comprises the steps of: (a) providing a separation matrix including a C═C double bond or a C≡N triple bond or an aromatic group as at least one uncharged ligand; (b) providing an aqueous solution wherein each protein to be separated is present in a positively charged state; (c) contacting, under a low ionic strength of less than 0.2 M, said matrix with said aqueous solution for a sufficient period of time to permit adsorption of each protein to the ligand to occur while maintaining each of said protein in a positively charged state; (d) removing the aqueous solution from the matrix; and (e) eluting at least one protein from the separation matrix; wherein each protein to be separated includes one or more basic amino acids, wherein the adsorption of each protein to said ligand is predominated by cation-π interaction and wherein the adsorption during step (c) is performed at a pH<pl, and the desorption during step (e) is performed at a pH>pl.