Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Processes and products – Electrostatic field or electrical discharge
Patent
1989-11-30
1991-08-13
Tung, T.
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Processes and products
Electrostatic field or electrical discharge
2041824, 204299R, 204301, 204302, 204305, 204306, B01D 6142
Patent
active
050393863
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to methods of, and apparatus for, preparative electrophoresis and in particular to such methods and apparatus which may be used in the large scale recovery of solute macromolecule.
BACKGROUND ART
Preparative electrophoretic separation of proteins and other compounds, i.e. separation by charge within an electric field, is normally carried out in a column of anticonvectant medium, e.g. chemical gel. The samples are delivered to the upper surface of the gel, electric potential is applied and, after a time interval, separated components emerge at the bottom of the gel column. The scale of this method of preparative separation is limited by the cross section of the gel which must not exceed the capacity of the system to remove heat generated by the current. This cross section can only be of the order of several square millimeters because of the very poor heat conductivity of the gel. The present invention aims to overcome these limitations in a number of ways.
It is also known to carry out electrophoretic separation as between free flowing streams either with free or fixed boundaries. In free boundary electrophoretic separation macromolecular species in solution, including colloidal solution, are separated as a stream of the solution is passed between charged electrodes. The stream is then divided, without remixing, into a plurality of parts with differing proportions of the molecular species present in the original stream (see U.S. Pat. No. 2,878,178, and British Patent specification 1,255,418). In fixed boundary electrophoretic separation a semi-permeable membrane acts as a filter through which the liquid stream passes (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,079,318) or acts to separate two streams of liquid between which at least one molecular species migrates under the electrophoretic influence (see PCT Patent specification W079/00002 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,989,613).
A problem with fixed boundary electrophoresis is the fouling or clogging of the membranes. The efficiency of the process depends upon: passage of the macromolecules in question.
Maximum contact, in turn, depends on uniform distribution of fluid flow in the spaces between the membranes. Because of the relatively slow passage of the fluid in electrophoretic separation manifolding of the flow through parallel spaces in a stack of electrophoretic membranes as well as ensuring a uniform flow of the fluid film along each space may be difficult because of preferential channelling due to slight differences in the geometry, air locks and similar imperfections. The present invention aims, in a first aspect, to overcome this problem.
It will be realised that membrane fouling or clogging can occur in fixed boundary electrophoretic separation when the pores in the membranes approach in size the molecules being separated. In a second aspect the present invention aims to overcome this problem.
A further problem with known fixed boundary electrophoretic separation has been the difficulty in maintaining a free flow of solvent between adjacent membranes. In a third aspect the present invention provides means to effectively space adjacent membranes while allowing free flow of solute therebetween.
A still further problem with known fixed boundary electrophoretic separation apparatus has been the physical problems of filling, emptying, cleaning and reassembling of a housing containing the electrodes and membranes. Conventionally such a housing has been formed substantially integrally with associated storage tanks, pumps, cooling apparatus and the like making the housing itself difficult to handle. In a fourth aspect the present invention provides improved apparatus for overcoming these physical handling problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention consists in a method for causing the electrophoretic migration of at least one solute from a first solvent stream to a second solvent stream in an appartus comprising a housing, a pair of electrodes positioned within the housing, each electrode being positioned adjacent one of a
REFERENCES:
patent: 3079318 (1963-02-01), Bier
patent: 3341441 (1967-09-01), Giuffrida et al.
patent: 3989613 (1976-11-01), Gritzner
patent: 4043895 (1977-08-01), Gritzner
patent: 4420383 (1983-12-01), Fujiwora et al.
Gradient Pty.
Ryser David G.
Striker Michael J.
Tung T.
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