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A single-step anion-exchange chromatographic separation of egg white proteins was carried out using a Q Sepharose Fast Flow column. The separation resulted in the isolation of two lysozyme peaks with purities of ca. 99 and 88%, one peak of ovotransferrin purified to ca. 75% and two ovalbumin peaks with purities of ca. 54 and 98%. Recoveries were estimated to be ca. 60, 100 and 83% for lysozyme, ovotransferrin and ovalbumin, respectively. The amino acid compositions of all collected peaks have also been determined. This confirmed the identity of some of the proteins contained in these peaks.

An improved procedure is described involving gel permeation and anion-exchange chromatography for the purification of four major hen egg white proteins. The procedure involves a first-step purification of ovomucin and lysozyme by gel permeation on a Superose 6 Prep Grade column. In the second step, anion-exchange chromatography on Q Sepharose Fast Flow led to the isolation of ovotransferrin and ovalbumin from a gel permeation chromatographic peak. The purities were estimated as ca. 80, 100, 80 and 100% for ovomucin, lysozyme, ovotransferrin and ovalbumin, respectively. The purification yield was over 60% for each protein. Further characterization of purified lysozyme revealed that it was fully active and homogeneous in relation to the electrospray ionization mass spectrum. The electrospray ionization mass spectrum showed different ovotransferrin species. The amino acid composition of purified ovomucin was compared to those published previously.