gel filtration A column-chromatographic technique that normally employs as a stationary phase polymeric carbohydrate-gel beads of controlled size and porosity. Mixture components are separated on the basis of their sizes and rates of diffusion into the beads. Smaller molecules tend to diffuse more rapidly into the beads, thereby leaving the mainstream of solvent and so becoming retarded with respect to larger molecules. This method can also be used to determine the molecular weight of an unknown substance.

gel filtration A column-chromatographic technique normally employing as a stationary phase polymeric carbohydrate-gel beads of controlled size and porosity. Mixture components are separated on the basis of their sizes and rates of diffusion into the beads. Smaller molecules tend to diffuse more rapidly into the beads, thereby leaving the mainstream of solvent and so becoming retarded with respect to larger molecules. This method can also be used to determine the molecular weight of an unknown substance.

gel filtration A column chromatographic technique normally employing as a stationary phase polymeric carbohydrategel beads of controlled size and porosity. Mixture components are separated on the basis of their sizes and rates of diffusion into the beads. Smaller molecules tend to diffuse more rapidly into the beads, thereby leaving the mainstream of solvent and so becoming retarded with respect to larger molecules. This method can also be used to determine the molecular weight of an unknown substance.

gel filtration A type of column chromatography in which a mixture of liquids is passed down a column containing a gel. Small molecules in the mixture can enter pores in the gel and move slowly down the column; large molecules, which cannot enter the pores, move more quickly. Thus, mixtures of molecules can be separated on the basis of their size. The technique is used particularly for separating proteins but it can also be applied to cell nuclei, viruses, etc.