A cationic mixed matrix membrane (MMM) was developed for recovery of lactoferrin (LF) from bovine whey by embedding ground SP Sepharose (TM) cation exchange resin into an ethylene vinyl alcohol polymer base membrane. The static LF binding capacity of the cationic MMM was 384 mg g(-1) membrane or 155 mg mL(-1) membrane, exceeding the capacity of several commercial adsorptive membranes. Adsorption of lysozyme onto the embedded ion exchange resin was visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The membrane chromatography system was operated in cross-flow mode to minimize fouling and enhance LF binding, resulting in an LF recovery as high as of 91%, with high purity. The system was operated at a constant permeate flux rate of 100 L m(-2) h(-1), except during the whey loading step, which was run at 50 L m(-2) h(-1). This is the first time a cross-flow MMM process has been reported for LF recovery from whey. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.