1. Purulent human sputum fractionated with NaCl and treated with DNase.
2. Elastase is purified by affinity chromatography and separated from cathepsins proteins by ion exchange chromatography on carboxymethyl agarose.
3. Elastase is further purified by agarose-alanyl-alanyl-alanine affinity chromatography at -15°C.
4. The elastase is free of casein G activity as assayed by Suc-Ala-Ala-Pro-Phe-pNA.