See also isolation of antibodies from colostrum in the “antibody” section under “particular sources”

See also isolation of Whey proteins in the “whey” section

Bovine colostrum: is the milk secreted by cows during the first few days after parturition. It contains many essential nutrients and bioactive components, including growth factors, immunoglobuilins (Igs), lactoperoxidase (Lp), lysozyme (Lys), lactoferrin (Lf), cytokines, nucloesides, vitamins, peptides and ogligosaccharides. As a result of the commercial use of bovine colostrum protiens, there is great interest in establihsing more efficient, robust and low cost processes to purify them. (Wu, “Isolation and purification of bioactive proteins from bovine colostrum”). (Wu, “Isolation and Purification of Bioactive Proteins from Bovine Colostrum”). 

Preparation of acid Whey from Bovine Colostrum

In order to avoid the problems caused by high viscosity of bovine colostrum, researchers usually employ acid whey as the beginning feed stop. Bovine colostrum samples are collected within the first day after cow parturition and frozen. The frozen samples are thawed, the lipid fraction removed by centrifugation and aci colostral whey prepared by precipitaiton of the casein from skimmed colostrum with HCL at pH 4.2. The precipitated casein is remove by MF. (Wu, “Isolation and purification of bioactive proteins from bovine colostrum”)

Isolation of Particular Proteins from Bovine Colostrum

Lactoferrine and IgG:

–UF-CEX

 Lu (J. Membrane Science, 2007, 297(1-2): pp. 152-161) discloses a two-step UF followed by a fast flow strong CEX to isolate LF from bovine colostrum in a production scale.

–CEX

Saufi (Separation and Purificaiton Technology, 2011, 77(1), pp. 68-75) discloses a cationic mixed matrix membrane for the recovery of LF from bovine whey, the absorbent was developed by embedding ground SP Sepharose CEX into an ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer case.

—-CEX-AEX

Wu (“isolation and purification of lactoferrin and immunoglobuilin G from Bovine Colostrum with serial cation-anion exchange chromatography” Biotechn. and Bioprocess Engineering 2009, 14: 155-160) discloses separation of LF and IgG from bovine colostrum. The whey was initially adjusted to pH 6.5, then centrifugation, precipitation and filtration to eliminate the fat and caseins. The treated whey was further UF under 50 kD MW, then the UF whey was passed through CEX and AEX columns in series. LF and IgG were adsorbed on CEX and AEX due to their different pI. Both the CEX and AEX were washed and elution was with NaCL of increasing molarities with 95% LF and 96.6 IgG obtained.

Lysozyme (Lys): 

–UF-CEX: Lu, 2007 designed a two step UF followed by strong CEX for isolatuion of Lys from colostrum.