Elute

Elute is a term commonly used in chemistry and biochemistry to describe the process of extracting one material from another by washing with a solvent. This process is often used in chromatography to separate different components of a mixture.

Etymology

The word "elute" is derived from the Latin word elutus, the past participle of eluere, which means "to wash out."

Applications

Elution is a critical step in various scientific techniques, including:

• Chromatography: In liquid chromatography, elution is the process of passing a liquid or gas through a column to separate different substances based on their interactions with the stationary phase.
• Protein purification: Elution is used to separate proteins from a mixture, often using a gradient of increasing ionic strength or pH.
• DNA extraction: Elution is used to purify DNA from a sample, typically involving the use of a buffer to wash the DNA off a solid support.

Types of Elution

There are several types of elution techniques, including:

• Isocratic elution: The composition of the solvent remains constant throughout the process.
• Gradient elution: The composition of the solvent changes gradually, often becoming more polar or less polar over time.

Elution in Chromatography

In chromatography, elution is a key step that determines the separation of components. The elution process can be influenced by several factors, including:

• The nature of the stationary phase
• The composition of the mobile phase
• The flow rate of the mobile phase
• The temperature of the system

Elution Profile

An elution profile is a graphical representation of the elution process, showing the concentration of different components as a function of time or volume of eluent. This profile helps in identifying and quantifying the separated components.

Related Techniques

• Adsorption
• Desorption
• Affinity chromatography
• Ion exchange chromatography
• Gel filtration chromatography

See Also

• Chromatography
• Protein purification
• DNA extraction
• Isocratic elution
• Gradient elution