Centrifugal force causes buffer, chosen to be denser than particles, to move outward and particles to move inward. Electrophoresis force can be made to equal centrifugal force. System tends not to be affected by convection and other disturbances that are so troublesome in conventional electrophoresis systems

Semon, H. W.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

October 1973
	 B73-10328 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief progam may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Electrophoresis Separator Combining Centrifugal Separation 
Buffer and 
Sample In
Buffer 
Fractions Out
	 Fractions Out	 Out 
Positive	 I	 _____ I	 \ 
Electrode -	 - 'IL	 e_1 
Negative 
Electrode	 I 
___________________/ I Jii Fractions Out	 Fractions Out	 Buffer 
To Motor	 Out 
Fluid Electrophoresis Unit
Membrane 
Electrophoresis is a widely used technique for sepa-
rating mixtures. In general, however, the method has not 
been useful for separating more than small quantities for 
laboratory use. A new analytical separator, that is both 
an electrophoresis cell and a centrifuge, can handle mix-
tures in industrial quantities. 
This apparatus is shown in the illustration. It consists 
of a pair of impellers on a rotating shaft. Both are elec-
trophoresis cells: one with positive poles, one with nega-
tive poles. Electrolyte buffer and sample are introduced 
through a port on the axis of the device. The sample, 
containing charged particles, divides upon entering the 
system, and the particles b'gin to migrate outward to-
ward the pole of opposite charge. 
The buffer solution is chosen to be denser than the 
particles. Thus, the centrifugal force causes the buffer to 
move outward and the particles to move inward. By 
proper choice of the electrophoresis potential and the 
velocity of rotation, the electrophoresis force can be 
made to equal the centrifugal force. In this way, parti-
cles with the same charge-to-mass ratio will congregate in 
zones at a definite distance from the axis.
forces. Should a particle move to a greater radius, in-
creased centrifugal force and decreased electrical force 
cause it to move back. The opposite occurs, should the 
particle be perturbed to a lesser radius. This sytem, then, 
tends not to be affected by convection and other dis-
turbances that are so troublesome in conventional elec-
trophoresis systems. 
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Code A&PS-TU 
Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama 35812 
Reference: B73-10328 
Patent status: 
NASA has decided not to apply for a patent. 
Source: H. W. Semon of

General Electric Company

under contract to
Marshall Space Flight Center

(MFS-2 1396) 
Once the particles have reached the stable zone, they •
will tend to stay there even though perturbed by outside 
• 
•	 Category 04 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States
	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19730000328 2020-03-17T07:03:14+00:00Z
Pu10 1313 
sc I-IQSO
lie 
0


Electrophoresis separator combining centrifugal separation

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

NASA Technical Reports Server