Sciencemadness Discussion Board

Inexpensive DIY capillary electrophoresis or other separation techniques?

math - 28-11-2025 at 07:37

Hi,

I'd like to know what is the simplest and cheapest approach to do capillary electrophoresis (or any other separation technique).
Specifically thinking about separation of phytochemicals.

I noticed this paper was quoted here in the forums a while ago:
An Inexpensive Device for Capillary Electrophoresis with Fluorescence Detection

However this one was published more recently:
Low-cost automated capillary electrophoresis instrument assembled from commercially available parts

This one instead is just a broader overview which however I'm getting lost in: Low-cost and open-source strategies for chemical separations

To perform CE, could I simply use:
1 glass capillary
2 beakers
2 graphite electrodes
a power source

until the desired phytochemical has migrated from one beaker to the other, and stop just before other phytochemicals start migrating?

Thank you

Metacelsus - 29-11-2025 at 04:38

Hmm, it sounds like you're trying to use capillary electrophoresis as a preparative (rather than analytical) separation technique? Typically only tiny amounts are loaded onto the capillary and I don't think it will scale up very well.

math - 29-11-2025 at 06:05

Quote: Originally posted by Metacelsus  
Hmm, it sounds like you're trying to use capillary electrophoresis as a preparative (rather than analytical) separation technique? Typically only tiny amounts are loaded onto the capillary and I don't think it will scale up very well.


Yes I'd use it to separate rather than just analyze. Which other techniques would you suggest?

Thank you