beta-galactosidase purification was performed by ion exchange chromatography in which the main elution parameters and different elution salts (NaCl, KCl, and (NH4)(2)SO4) were evaluated through distinct purification strategies. Among the salts under analysis, KCl was the best one for beta-galactosidase purification, since it reached a 95.1% recovery and an 8.2-fold purification factor. NaCl, which is the most common elution salt found in the literature, obtained a 75.1% recovery and a 7.5-fold purification factor whereas ammonium sulfate, as salt elution, yielded a 72.1% recovery and a 3-fold purification factor in the same conditions.