ION EXCHANGE

CHROMATOGRAPHY
By
Mehwish Riaz, Aqsa Shabir, Zunaira Khalid
ION EXCHANGE CHROMATOGRAPHY
 Ion exchange (IEX) chromatography is a technique that is commonly
used in biomolecule purification. It involves the separation of
molecules on the basis of their charge (Veit, 2010).
 The principle of separation is thus by reversible exchange of ions
between the target ions present in the sample solution to the ions
present on ion exchangers (Gould, 2009).
TYPES OF EXCHANGERS
 Cationic exchangers possess negatively charged group, and these will
attract positively charged cations. These exchangers are also called
“Acidic ion exchange” materials, because their negative charges result
from the ionization of acidic group.
 Anionic exchangers have positively charged groups that will attract
negatively charged anions. These are also called “Basic ion exchange”
materials (Smith, 2011).
Working Principle
 The ion exchangers basically contain charged groups covalently linked
to the surface of an insoluble matrix.
 The charged groups of the matrix can be positively or negatively
charged.
 When suspended in an aqueous solution, the charged groups of the
matrix will be surrounded by ions of the opposite charge.
 In this “ion cloud”, ions can be reversibly exchanged without changing
the nature and the properties of the matrix (Karim, 2007)
Principle
Instrumentation of ion exchange chromatography
 Pump
 Injectors
 Columns
 Suppressors
 Detectors
 Data system
Instrumentation
Procedure
 An impure protein sample is loaded into the ion exchange
chromatography column at a particular pH.
 Charged proteins will bind to the oppositely charged functional groups
in the resin
 A salt gradient is used to elute separated proteins. At low salt
concentrations, proteins having few charged groups are eluted and at
higher salt concentrations, proteins with several charged groups are
eluted.
 Unwanted proteins and impurities are removed by washing the column.
Resin Selection in Ion Exchange Chromatography
 Ion exchange resins have positively or negatively charged functional
groups covalently linked to a solid matrix. Matrices are usually made
of cellulose, polystyrene, agarose, and polyacrylamide.
 The stability of the protein of interest dictates the selection of an anion
or a cation exchanger – either exchanger may be used if the stability is
of no concern.
Applications
 Water purification
 Analysis of products of hydrolysis of nucleic acids
 To analyze lunar rocks and rare trace elements on Earth.
 Separation and Purification of blood components.
 Food and clinical research
 Fermentation (during ß-galactosidase production).