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The Use of Chromatography & Electrophoresis

Chromatography is a process in which a liquid or gaseous mixture is separated into components as a result of differential distribution of the solutes as they flow around or over a stationary liquid or solid phase. Chromatography is extensively used in toxicology to separate and identify drugs of abuse. Electrophoresis is the movement of suspended particles through a medium such as paper or gel under the action of an electromotive force applied to electrodes in contact with the suspension. Microbiologists often use electrophoresis to separate and arrange nucleic acids, i.e., DNA and RNA, by size.

  1. Separation of Mixtures Using Chromatography

    • Chromatography is used to separate any mixture. A mixture has two phases. Stationary phase is the solid phase where the product subjected to separation is placed. In the mobile phase the gas used for the separation is made to pass over the product kept in the stationary phase. Gas is the medium used in the mobile phase for carrying the mixture for separation. The mixture to be separated is applied at the stationary phase in the chromatography process.

    Separation of Mixtures Using Electrophoresis

    • Electrophoresis is the process where an electric potential gradient is applied across the stationary phase. In electrophoresis also there are two phases--stationary and mobile. Acids or bases are used as the mobile phase medium that supports in carrying the mixture to be separated. In this process of mixture separation, the mixture is applied at the middle of the stationary phase. During this process, the components subjected to separation move towards either negative or positive electrodes, depending on the charge applied.

    Uses of Chromatography

    • Chromatography is used to make analyses in pharmaceuticals to determine the exact quantity of chemicals in medicines or tablets being produced as a sampling process. Chromatography is widely used in hospitals to check or detect the alcohol level in the blood stream of a patient. Also, this type of processing helps in studying the level of blood in a patient's body. This ensures a better treatment for the patient.

    Crime Investigation

    • Chromatography is an exclusive method used in identifying the samples obtained by the sampling group from the criminal spot. Comparison process is done using all the samples received from the crime spot to discover the person involved in the crime. This process of chromatography is also employed to check for impurities present in water. There are different types of chromatography processes to check impurity levels, such as paper chromatography.

    Uses of Electrophoresis

    • Electrophoresis is involved in the separation action of proteins, both one-dimensional and two-dimensional. One-dimensional action supports protein and nucleic acid separation. Two-dimensional technique is used for DNA fingerprinting. Electrophoresis is also used to introduce chemicals into the growing embryo of a chick. There are different types of electrophoresis techniques, such as gel electrophoresis and DNA gel electrophoresis, for such applications.

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