Method and apparatus for electrophoretic separations

The method of separating organic components from each other in solutions containing more than one organic substance to be separated comprising feeding the solution to be separated through an inlet into a separation chamber, flowing the solution from the inlet end of the chamber to an outlet end, providing in the chamber along the path of flow of the solution a plurality of closely packed hollow fiber tubes having their major axis aligned substantially parallel to the flow of the solution through the chamber, flowing heat exchange fluid through the hollow fibers in the chamber from one end to the other, passing the solution along the outer surfaces of the fibers and along the interstitial spaces between the fibers while passing current through the solution continuously at sufficient amperage and voltage to cause the components of the solution to separate from each other in their path of travel through the chamber and recovering the components from the solution so separated in separate streams at the exit end of the chamber.

The method of separating constituents in solution by electrophoresis comprising passing the solution to be separated into a chamber having a plurality of closely packed hollow fibers therein;

• flowing the solution to be separated along the major axis of the hollow fibers on the outside of the fibers in the interstitial spaces thereof in a plurality of streams, passing cooling fluid through the interior of the hollow fibers while the separation is being conducted, passing individual streams of buffer solutions at different pH values to each of the plurality of streams passing through the chamber and undergoing separation to thereby establish a pH gradient in the streams across the chamber, passing electric current through the chamber to cause the constituents of the which are amphoteric to separate in the form of narrow bands due to the focusing effect of the pH gradient established and removing the constituents so separated in individual streams.

A process for separating solutions using electrophoresis comprising feeding the solution to be separated through a chamber, packing the chamber with elongated hollow fibers having semi-permeable walls, the fibers being packed to provide in their interstices a plurality of passages for the fluid to be separated to flow between the hollow fibers during the separations, the cooling fluid being buffered to provide differing pH values across the chambers as said pass through the walls of the hollow fibers into the solutions undergoing separation to thereby provide a pH gradient across the chamber and introducing electric current through the chamber at sufficient voltage to separate the constitutes of the solution being separated into separate streams for collection.

An electrophoretic separation bed comprising a plurality of hollow fibers aligned and spaced, means to introduce fluid through said fibers, the packing of the fibers being arranged to provide sufficient space therebetween to permit the solution to be separated to flow in the interstices provided between the fibers by the packing.