Electrokinetic demixing of aqueous two-phase polymer/salt systems

Abstract

Electrokinetic demixing of aqueous two-phase polymer/salt systems is demonstrated, resulting in significant enhancement in demixing rates by about 1-4-fold. The effect of field polarity, field strength, volume ratio, and phase composition on phase demixing has been studied. Further the influence of these parameters on phase demixing could be explained based on the hydrodynamic flow-electroosmotic flow (HEF) model.

Electrokinetic Demixing of Polymer/Salt Systems Containing Biomolecules

“…Application of an electric field has enhanced the phase demixing rate significantly even in the polymer=salt system, which was not expected keeping in view the high conductivity of the phases. The electrokinetic demixing of aqueous two-phase polymer=salt systems was observed and it was also noticed that the demixing rate increased by 50% (14). Levine and Bier (1990) studied the electrophoretic transport of proteins across the interface between the phases of an aqueous polymer two-phase system (15).…”

“…The decrease in the demixing time of the phases in the presence of the electric field at both the field polarities is explained by the hydrodynamic flow-electrosmotic flow model (14). According to the model, the electroosmotic and hydrodynamic circulation flows inside the droplet will be in the same or in the opposite direction, depending on the polarity of the electric field vis-à-vis, the dispersed phase.…”