Literature/202301192057 free flow electrophoresis
The idea behind the technique is applying an electric field perpendicular to the direction of the flow of a solution containing the analyte, and the BGE, background electrolyte. Analyte is then separated based on electrophoretic mobility at the end of the channel.
Some concerns with the method are:
- Joule heating of the sample (there's some effort put on heat dissipation in the design of the instruments). This is a concern because thermal gradients will generate sample separation in directions that may not be aligned with the electrophoretic mobility.
- A membrane must be used to separate the electrodes
- There are some local-zone effects with the charges
- Flow-rate/resolution are linked (faster allows for lower separation)
- Band broadening and dilution of the separated compounds.
- Differences in conductivity between sample and background electrolyte lead to electrohydrodynamic distortions.
- Longer residence time may increase band broadening due to diffusion (but seems to be a small effect).
There are different implementations of free-flow electrophoresis, including:
- free flow electrophoresis
- Isotachophoresis
- Free-flow isoelectric focusing
- Recycling zone electrophoresis
"Free flow electrophoresis is not aimed to be an analytical method. "
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