PROMOTION OF PHASE-SEPARATION IN AQUEOUS 2-PHASE SYSTEMS UTILIZING MAGNETIC FLUID

Measurement of coductivity was found to be useful method for the obser vation of phase-separation behavior in an aqueous two-phase system. Ph ase-separation behavior in dextran and polyethylene glycol system cont aining magnetic fluid was investigated. Phase separation time was much shorttened by addition of a small amount of magnetic fluid. Phase-sep aration time decreased to less than one-third that for a conventional system by addition of 2% magnetic fluid under a magnetic field of 0.3 tesla. Further partition experiments with two proteins, albumin and he moglobin, were carried out at 303K with magnetic fluid. The magnetic f luid did not affect the partition or separation behavior of these prot eins at a low content of magnetic fluid.