Two methods were tested to recover lysozyme from reverse micellar phases formed either with an anionic surfactant or with a cationic surfactant. The conventional back extraction method of contacting the protein-containing reverse micellar phase with a fresh aqueous phase, with pH and salt concentration adjustment, did not recover lysozyme from either reverse micellar phase. The lysozyme removed from the reverse micellar phase precipitated at the aqueous-organic interface. A solvent precipitation method using a polar organic solvent added to either lysozyme-containing reverse micellar phase, precipitated lysozyme as a solid, while the surfactant was solubilized in the polar solvent. Of the seven solvents tested, acetone recovered 70% of the original lysozyme from the anionic reverse micellar phase without loss of activity. No active lysozyme could be recovered from the cationic reverse micellar system. In this case, the lysozyme was denatured by the high pH required for the initial extraction into the reverse micellar phase.