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Abstract

The method and apparatus for preparative electrophoresis is especially useful for proteins. An electrophoretic potential with an initial polarity is applied across an electrophoretic medium (13) to induce at least two species of macromolecules (1,2) in a mixture (3) with a first electrolyte solution to move into the medium (13) and towards a second electrolyte solution on an opposite side of the medium (13). The at least two species of macromolecules (1,2) have similar transport properties, although at least one (1) of the species moves through the medium (13) at a faster rate than the other species (2). The initial polarity is maintained until just before any of the other species of macromolecules have emerged into the second electrolyte solution whereupon the polarity of the electrophoretic potential is reversed while preventing the proportion of the at least one species of macromolecules (1) which has already emerged into the second electrolyte solution from being drawn back into the medium (13). The application and reversal of the electrophoretic potential is repeated until a desired proportion of the at least one species of macromolecules (1) has been transferred to the second electrolyte solution. Preferably, the ratio of the duration of the initial to reversed polarity is between 1:2 and 1:4 so that the at least one other species of macromolecules is substantially completely driven back into the first electrolyte solution.

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