Can spilled protein be recovered?

[Dr Engelbert Buxbaum]

In article <mailman.20.1324276765.3721.methods from net.bio.net>, 
Paul.Phelan from tufts.edu says...
> 
> This is kind of a trivial question, less technical than the usual, but
> I'm just wondering what people's thoughts are on whether it is worth
> trying to recover spilled protein. 

If the sample were valuable enough, I'd collect the spillage, for 
example with a plastic syringe. Then I'd filter the content through a 
low-protein binding (polysulfone) 0.22 µm membrane, to remove any 
particulate contaminants (dust, bacteria etc.). To be thorough, I'd 
repeat the last (polishing) step of the purification protocol of that 
protein.