An electronic colloid osmometer and an assessment of its accuracy. The molecular weight of bovine plasma albumin

Abstract

The design, theory and operation of an electronic colloid osmometer is described. Measurements could be made 30 minutes after placing a solution in the instrument. Ten observations on each of a series of 7 solutions of bovine albumin were made, in 2 osmometers. The S.E. of the means of the observations ranged from 0.017 to 0.048 cm H2O with osmotic pressures ranging from 1.9 to 13.7 cm H2O. The value for molecular weight of bovine plasma albumin derived by various methods from these results ranged from 66,600 to 68,800.