Protein adsorption in packed columns was investigated theoretically and experimentally by frontal analysis and ion exchange chromatography. A dynamic model describing interfacial and intraparticle mass transfer and surface reaction phenomena was used in theoretical analysis. The effect of operating conditions, including temperature, feed concentration, column length and diameter, on the performance of breakthrough curves were determined. Two different techniques are employed in the estimation of the mass transfer parameters and the interaction rate constant. Use of model parameters obtained from finite bath studies results in the prediction of the 70% of the breakthrough profiles whereas simultaneous parameter estimation and solution of the partially differential model equations yield full prediction of the adsorption phenomenon. The former technique can be used in the design and scale-up of chromatography columns only if the later parts of protein adsorption are not of importance.