PCT No. PCT/SE97/00237 Sec. 371 Date Dec. 29, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Dec. 29, 1998 PCT Filed Feb. 14, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO97/29825 PCT Pub. Date Aug. 21, 1997Process for separating off a peptide or a nucleic acid by an anion exchanger (I) characterized in that a) the anion exchanger (I) exhibits ligands, which (i) contain a primary, secondary or tertiary amino group and (ii) are covalently bound to an organic polymer (matrix), b) there on a carbon atom at a distance of 2 or 3 atoms away from an amino nitrogen in the ligands is a hydroxyl group or a primary, secondary or tertiary amino group, and c) the maximum elution ionic strength in the pH range 2-14 for at least one of the proteins transferrin, ovalbumin 1, ovalbumin 2, beta -lactoglobulin 1 and beta -lactoglobulin 2 on the anion exchanger is higher than the elution ionic strength required for a quaternary comparative ion exchanger.