Abstract

The present invention provides new methods for the concentration of ionic solutes, particularly ampholytes, such as, for example, peptides, proteins and nucleic acids. The methods are based on the fact that the electrophoretic migration velocities of solutes decrease upon a decrease in the absolute value of the zeta-potential of a solute or the pore size of the electrophoresis medium, and upon an increase in the cross-section of the electrophoresis chamber, the viscosity of the electrophoresis medium, or the electrical conductivity of the electrophoresis medium. When applied to capillary electrophoresis, the methods described herein permit concentration of a solution of solutes in the same capillary tube as is used for the electrophoretic analysis. Alternatively, however, the sample can be withdrawn from the capillary tube following concentration of the solution of solutes and processed by techniques other than high-performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE).

Other References

• Andrews, Electrophoresis: Theory, Techniques, and Biochemical and Clinical Applications, 2nd ed., Clarendon Press, Oxford, pp. 254-255, 256, 278 and 299
• Svensson, H., Acta Chemica Scandinavica, 16:456-466 (1962), no month availabl