Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Processes and products – Electrostatic field or electrical discharge
Patent
1987-05-28
1989-12-12
Niebling, John F.
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Processes and products
Electrostatic field or electrical discharge
2041831, 204299R, 204300R, G01N 2726, B01D 5702
Patent
active
048865893
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an electrophoresis method for separating particles in a separation medium, the particles being driven alternately in different directions in the separation medium, and an apparatus for carrying the method into effect.
BACKGROUND ART
Such electrophoresis methods and apparatuses are known from the U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,148,703 and 4,473,452. According to these two patents two electrode pairs are used, which are put under voltage alternately, and which are so located relative to the separation medium that the generated electric fields drive the particles to be separated alternately in different directions in the separation medium.
Besides two electrode pairs, a switching device is also required in such apparatuses to alternately put the electrode pairs under voltage. Such apparatuses are comparatively expensive.
Moreover, with electrodes on four sides of the separation medium the mutual positioning of the electrodes will be critical.
It should also be pointed out that no good separation will be obtained when the electrodes are located in such a manner that the electric fields generated by the respective electrode pairs are perpendicular to each other.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The object of the invention is to bring about a method and an apparatus which are less expensive than such methods and apparatuses known so far, and which, moreover, enable a better separation.
This is attained by the method according to the invention in that the separation medium is rotated at predetermined intervals in a plane between different rotary positions in one and the same electric field.
The apparatus according to the invention is mainly characterized in that it comprises a rotary support plate for supporting the separation medium, which support plate is provided between field generating means for generating an electric field, and a time-controlled driving member for rotating the support plate at predetermined intervals in a plane between different rotary positions in the electric field.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
The invention will be described more in detail below with reference to the drawing on which
FIG. 1 schematicaly shows an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention with a separation medium in a first rotary position, and
FIG. 2 shows the apparatus according to FIG. 1 with the separation medium in a second rotary position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In FIG. 1 an embodiment of a conventional electrophoresis chamber is denoted 10. The chamber 10 shown in plan view is an open-top rectangular chamber made of an electrically insulating material, e.g. plexiglass. In the embodiment shown, electrodes 11 and 12 extend along the short sides of the chamber 10. These electrodes 11 and 12 are connected to the positive and the negative poles, respectively, of a D.C. source 13. In a manner known per se the electrophoresis chamber 10 is filled with a suitable buffer solution.
According to the invention a rotary support plate 14 is provided in the electrophoresis chamber 10, which support plate 14 is intended to support a separation medium, e.g. a gel plate 15, in which a separation of partibles in samples 16 applied to the gel plate 15, is to take place by means of the electric field generated between the electrodes 11 and 12.
The support plate 14 is rotatable by means of a driving member 17 known per se, e.g. an electric motor.
According to the invention the support plate 14 is rotated by means of the motor 17 around its centre axis at predetermined intervals by means of a timing circuit 18 between different predetermined rotary positions.
As indicated by a dashed line 19 the timing circuit 18 can be connected to the D.C. source 13 to disconnect the latter during the rotation of the support plate 14.
The timing circuit 18 can be set in such a manner that the rotary intervals as well as the rest intervals between the rotary intervals will have different lengths. Hereby it will be possible to make the angles between the different rotary positions for the support plate 14 unequally
REFERENCES:
patent: 4061561 (1977-12-01), Fletcher et al.
patent: 4148703 (1979-04-01), Trop et al.
patent: 4473452 (1984-09-01), Canton et al.
patent: 4737251 (1988-04-01), Carle
Hsing Ben C.
Niebling John F.
The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Oxford
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