Electrochemical Reactions During Isoelectric Focusing and Their Role in Establishment of the pH Gradient

Abstract

The process occurring as the background to IEF is electrolysis of water. During IEF the yield of water ions decreases, following a non-linear relationship similar to that of the current. Different extents of acidification and basification of the electrode solutions, causing a drift of the pH gradient, were observed. We derived a relationship underlying this process which enables calculation of the electrode current. By using a novel approach we showed that the sum of the pH of distilled water electrode solutions at the end of the IEF process tends to the ionic product of water.