The invention discloses a method for separating and purifying gamma-
aminobutyric acid from whole cells or enzymatic conversion liquid. The method comprises the following steps: removing thalli and large-particle impurities, denaturating, decolorizing and removing impurities, crystallizing for the first time, washing for the first time, crystallizing for the second time, washing for the second time and
drying. According to the present invention, the
thermal denaturation of the
protein, the
active carbon decoloration and the
flocculation impurity removal are integrated, such that the
solid-liquid separation frequency is reduced, the problems of difficult
filtration and easy leakage of the powdered
active carbon are solved, and the purity and the yield of the gamma-
aminobutyric acid are significantly improved. In the whole separation and purification process, the pH value is not adjusted, the cost is saved, impurities are reduced, and the
ion removal process is omitted. And collecting the primary
crystallization mother liquor and washing liquor for secondary
crystallization, so that the yield of the final product is greatly improved. According to the separation and purification method, the purity of the obtained gamma-
aminobutyric acid is greater than 99%, the yield is greater than 92%, and the
crystal light
transmittance is greater than 99%. The method provided by the invention is simple, efficient and low in cost, and has a wide application prospect.