In the present work the purification of α and β-amylase enzymes of maize malt was carried out by expanded bed adsorption and ethanol fractionation downstream processes. 5 mL of 2% maize malt solution in 0.05 M phosphate buffer at pH was injected into a chromatographic column containing Amberlite 410 ion-exchange resin, on a 4 cm fixed bed fluidized to 8 cm. 0.25 M NaCl solution at 14 mL/ minuto of descending flux was used for promotion of the elution, the eluted matter was fractioned by 40-70, 50-80 and 60-90% ethyl alcohol concentration at 20 and 30 ºC. Activity recovery and purification factor were of 95% and 23 times, respectively, in the first step. 50-80% alcohol concentration at 20ºC was the best condition, in which a purification factor of more than 100 times was achieved.
expanded bed adsorption; precipitation; amylases; corn malt; ethyl alcohol; ion-exchange resin