Exhaust and separation device for free-flow electrophoresis apparatus and method for exhausting air using the same

An exhaust and separation device for a free-flow electrophoresis apparatus, the device comprising:

• a) a buffer reservoir;
• b) a buffer pump, the buffer pump comprising an inlet;
• c) a manual inflator;
• d) a gas-liquid buffering and separating member;
• e) a separation chamber, the separation chamber comprising a shell, the shell comprising an upper cover plate, an ion-exchange membrane, and an outer wall surface of an insulating and thermal conductive base plate;
• and
• f) a self-balancing recovery device;
• wherein
• the inlet of the buffer pump is connected to the buffer reservoir via a first connection pipe;
• an upper surface of the gas-liquid buffering and separating member is provided with an air inlet and a liquid inlet;
• a lower surface of the gas-liquid buffering and separating member is provided with a plurality of liquid outlets;
• an inner wall of the upper cover plate, the ion-exchange membrane, and an inner wall surface of the insulating and thermal conductive base plate are combined to form the separation chamber;
• the separation chamber is provided with buffer inlets and buffer outlets on two ends, respectively;
• an outlet of the buffer pump is connected to the liquid inlet of the gas-liquid buffering and separating member via a second connection pipe;
• an outlet of the manual inflator is connected to the air inlet of the gas-liquid buffering and separating member via a rubber hose, and the rubber hose is provided with a hose clamp;
• and
• the liquid outlets of the gas-liquid buffering and separating member are connected to the buffer inlets of the separation chamber via connection pipes;
• the buffer outlets of the separation chamber are connected to inlets of the self-balancing recovery device.