Automated group separations of complex mixtures with gel filtration pipette tips

A method of gel filtration comprising:

• a) attaching a filtration pipette tip having a hub at a proximal end to a pipetting aid, wherein said filtration pipette tip has a filter located at a distal delivery end and a dry size exclusion media above said filter and below said hub, wherein said dry size exclusion media is loosely contained in said filtration pipette tip;
• b) aspirating a solvent through said distal delivery end of said filtration pipette tip using said pipetting aid;
• c) equilibrating said dry size exclusion media and said solvent in said filtration pipette tip to form a wetted size exclusion media;
• d) draining excess solvent through said distal delivery end of said filtration pipette tip to form a gel filtration pipette tip, wherein said wetted size exclusion media settles during said draining and forms a homogenous gel filtration column;
• e) introducing a sample solution to a top of said homogenous gel filtration column in said gel filtration pipette tip, wherein said sample solution comprises two or more analytes of different sizes;
• f) loading said sample solution into said homogenous gel filtration column;
• g) adding an elution solvent to said top of said homogenous gel filtration column,
• h) flowing said elution solvent through said homogenous gel filtration column, wherein said homogenous gel filtration column separates said two or more analytes into two or more separated groups based on said different sizes;
• and,
• i) eluting each of said two or more separated groups into its own collection well.