Purification of papain by immobilized metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) on chelating carboxymethyl cellulose

Chelating carboxymethyl cellulose was prepared in bead form by immobilizing iminodiacetic acid on carboxymethyl cellulose which was earlier crosslinked and activated by epichlorohydrin. The prepared matrix was used to purify papain by a factor of 2.6 from commercial papain, and by a factor of 4 from papaya latex by batch adsorption and immobilized metal affinity chromatography respectively. Purification factors obtained were equal in batch mode and double in column mode, to purifications obtained on Chelating Sepharose® Fast Flow. Flow rates up to 38 ml/cm2 h were easily possible on the prepared chelating carboxymethyl cellulose.