Purification of crystallization inhibitory material of calcium salt from a scallop shell

Abstract

A crystallization inhibitory material of calcium carbonate was purified from the crude extract of a scallop shell. The inhibition pattern of this inhibition material was the same as that of lithostathine, could inhibit the growth of calcium carbonate crystal. This inhibitory material was purified by ethanol fractionation and column chromatographies on both of DEAE-TOYOPEARL 650M and DEAE-TOYOPEARL HW-55F. The molecular weight of purified crystallization inhibitory material of calcium carbonate was estimated to be approximately 2.7×10³ according to gel filtration chromatography.