ElectroPrep Electrodialysis System
The QuikPrep® ElectroPrep Electrodialysis System is an extremely versatile patented sample preparation technology that is capable of separating samples by both size and charge. It provides faster dialysis times due to movement of charged molecules in an electric field during dialysis, thus combining electrophoresis with dialysis. With a run-time of 5 to 10 minutes, ElectroPrep provides speed and convenience, even at the very low currents (5 to 10 mA) used with this system.
It is ideal for the rapid purification of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and other biomolecules. Membranes of different MWCO (molecular weight cut off), from 100 to 300,000 Daltons, can be used for selective buffer exchange, dialysis, filtration, concentration, fractionation and elution.
The QuikPrep® ElectroPrep Electrodialysis System is an extremely versatile patented sample preparation technology that is capable of separating samples by both size and charge. It provides faster dialysis times due to movement of charged molecules in an electric field during dialysis, thus combining electrophoresis with dialysis. With a run-time of 5 to 10 minutes, ElectroPrep provides speed and convenience, even at the very low currents (5 to 10 mA) used with this system.
It is ideal for the rapid purification of proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates and other biomolecules. Membranes of different MWCO (molecular weight cut off), from 100 to 300,000 Daltons, can be used for selective buffer exchange, dialysis, filtration, concentration, fractionation and elution.
The ElectroPrep Tank (74-1196) is supplied with a tank, lid and connectors, a replacement gasket. Power supply, power supply adapters, chambers, links, unions and membranes must be purchased separately.
Features
- Faster dialysis times due to movement of charged molecules in the electric field
- Reusable
- Available for most sample sizes, large or small
- Membranes available with MWCO’s to suit almost any application
- Easy to use
- Leak proof
- Autoclaveable
- Low protein binding
- High sample recovery
- Chambers made of autoclaveable, insert PTFE
Applications
- Electro-elution from gels and solutions
- Electro-dialysis (with an average buffer exchange time of 5 to 10 minutes)
- Electroconcentration
- Selective electrofiltration
- Size fractionation
- Primer removal
- Salt removal
- Detergent removal
- Dye terminator removal
Assembly and Use
A functional ElectroPrep System consists of the ElectroPrep Tank, power supply, and one or more Dialyzer Units.
The ElectroPrep System uses at least one Dialyzer Unit to perform a sample electrodialysis. A basic Dialyzer Unit is comprised of a dialyzer chamber, dialysis membranes at one or both ends of the chamber and two end caps.
Dialyzer Units can be configured in a number of more complex ways to perform different applicationsusing a combination of components:
- Dialysis Chamber: the major receptacles for either samples or dialyzed materials. Includes one main chamber with two open ports and two open end caps. The sample chambers are made of PTFE, an inert material especially suited for high sample recovery and are available in a range of 50 µl to 1,500 µl volumes. All Dialysis Chambers use 15/16” diameter membranes.
- Two end caps may be used, one at the end of each chamber.
- Two end caps may be used, one at the end of each chamber.
- Union: joins two dialysis chambers together.
- Without membranes to make a larger volume chamber.
- With dialysis membranes of appropriate MWCOs for serial dialysis. (The junction between a Dialysis Chamber and a Union accommodates the same size 15/16” diameter membranes as the junction between a Dialysis Chamber and its end cap).
- Link Chambers: may be used for concentration of dialyzed samples or for size fractionation of samples using membranes of different MWCOs. As with Unions, Link Chambers may also be connected to Chambers without membranes to make a larger volume chamber. Each Link Chamber comes with one open end cap. Primary and Secondary Link Chambers accept different size membranes at their junctions on either side facing the Dialysis Chamber or the Link Chamber cap.
- Primary Link Chamber: can be joined directly to a dialysis chamber on one end and joined to a cap or a secondary link chamber on the other end. Primary link chambers are available in a range of 50 µlto 1,500 µl volumes. The junction between a Dialysis Chamber and a Primary Link Chamber accepts a 15/16” diameter membrane and the junction between a Primary link chamber and a Secondary Link Chamber or cap accepts an 11/16” diameter membrane.
- Secondary Link Chamber: can be joined to a primary link chamber on one end and can be joined to a cap on the other end. Secondary link chambers are available in either 50 µl or 100 µl volumes. The junction between a Primary and Secondary Link Chambers accepts an 11/16” size membrane and the junction between a Secondar yLink Chamber and its cap accepts a 7/16” diameter membrane.
- Dialysis Membranes are added at one or both ends or between Dialysis Chamber and/or Link Chambers and Unions. Membrane MWCOs, ranging from 500 to 300,000 Daltons, may be used in combination with different Dialysis and Link Chambers for selective elution, filtration, dialysis, fractionation and concentration of complex samples. Dialysis Membranes are available in three sizes: 7/16”, 11/16”, and 15/16” diameters. It is important to choose the correct membrane diameter. Please contact Technical Support if you need assistance.
How to Select Your Chamber and Membrane Configuration
1. Decide upon your applicatione.g., electrodialysis, electroelution, electrofiltration, electroconcentration, electroseparation.
2. Select a Dialysis Chamber able to hold the desired sample volume (50 to 1500 µl.) Note that two Dialysis Chambers can be joined to a Union (with or without
membranes added between the Union and Chambers) to increase sample volume (up to 600 or 3500 µl).
3. Choose Dialysis Membranes of suitable size, type and MWCO depending on the application being done and the molecular weight of the biological molecule of
interest.
- Membrane Type: Take into account the membrane’s suitability for use in aqueous or organic solvents.
- For organic solvents, use either regenerated cellulose or polycarbonate.
- For aqueous solutions, use cellulose acetate. - Membrane size: Take care to select the membrane diameters you need for each component in your configuration.
4. Assemble Dialysis Unit
- With one Dialysis Chamber, two membranes and two Open End Caps for desalting or buffer exchange. (Configuration #1)
- With two Dialysis Chambers of equal volume, three membranes, a Union, and two Open End Caps for electroseparation and electroelution. (Configuration #2)
- With Dialysis Chamber, three membranes, a smaller volume Link Chamber, and two Open End Caps for electroconcentration or electrofiltration. (Configuration #3)
- With Dialysis Chambers, six membranes of different MWCO, a Union, and multiple Link Chambers forelectrofractionation. (Configuration #4)
Note: Configurations 1 to 4 are just a few examples of ElectroPrep Unit assembly. Additional configurations for electrofractionation are possible using additional combinations of Dialysis Chambers, Unions, Primary Link Chambers, and Secondary Link Chambers.
Example Configurations
Dialysis Unit Components | Chamber Size | Membrane Diameter to Order |
Dialysis Chamber | 50 to 1500 µl | 15/16" |
Primary Link Chamber | 50 to 1500 µl | 11/16" |
Secondary Link Chamber | 50 to 100 µl | 7/16" |