Purification methods are provided for proteins and peptides, employing silicon carbide to bind the proteins or peptides. The methods may also be used to recover and purify recombinantly expressed proteins sequestered in inclusion bodies. The method for purifying a protein or peptide comprises contacting a solution containing the protein or peptide with silicon carbide at a binding pH for the protein or peptide to allow the protein or peptide to bind to the silicon carbide; and eluting the protein or peptide from the silicon carbide.