Steady state electrolysis and isoelectric focusing

Abstract

The properties of pH gradients formed by stationary electrolysis of weak mobile or fixed electrolytes are analyzed. The model uses the appropriate balance equations and those of chemical equilibria. It is shown how the equation of the current density has to be modified for considering that fraction of current that is associated with the diffusion of neutral buffer molecules within a pH gradient. Furthermore it is shown that the pH gradients themselves give rise to water production within the gradient and that essential properties of the steady state are related to chemical reactions between the electrolyte constituents. The differential equations describing the gradients of the concentration of a given component, the pH, conductivity and potential are explicitly formulated in relation to those reactions. The equations are solved numerically and the significance of the results for isoelectric focusing is discussed. The experimental conditions to reach shallow and smooth pH gradients exhibiting sufficient ionic strength are formulated.