Some Techniques in the Separation of Inorganic lons in Biological Material

Abstract

There are many studies of the effect of inorganic ions in biological systems in which trace amounts are of great importance. Unequivocal estimations of these ions often involve a separation, either partial or complete, of the ion of interest prior to final measurement. Three procedures—precipitation, absorption on an ion-exchange resin, and liquid-liquid solvent extraction—are described in some detail. The three procedures have been treated from the standpoint of the distribution of the ion between two immiscible phases. Examples of these techniques from the author's own experience have been described.