Abstract: An electrophoretic apparatus comprising: a first electrolyte chamber containing a first electrode; a second electrolyte chamber containing a second electrode; a first sample chamber disposed between the first and second electrolyte chambers and proximate to the first electrolyte chamber; a second sample chamber disposed between the first sample chamber and the second electrolyte; three ion-permeable barriers separating the first electrolyte chamber, the first sample chamber, the second sample chamber, and the second electrolyte chamber, respectively, wherein the ion-permeable barriers impede convective mixing of the contents in each of the respective chambers; a first electrolyte reservoir and a second electrolyte reservoir in fluid communication with the first and second electrolyte chambers, respectively; a first sample reservoir and a second sample reservoir in fluid communication with the first and second sample chambers, respectively; means adapted for communicating a first electrolyte and a second elect

Abstract: A polyacrylamide gel utilizing a buffer system comprising Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane at the concentration range 0.15 to 0.25 M titrated with hydrochloric acid to a pH between 6.5 and 7.5. The gel is substantially stable to polyacrylamide hydrolysis during storage for at extended periods and has an acceptable shelf-life of at least 6 months after storage at about 4° C.

Abstract: A method of removing a biological contaminant from a mixture containing a biomolecule and the biological contaminant, the method comprising: (a) placing the biomolecule and contaminant mixture in a first solvent stream, the first solvent stream being separated from a second solvent stream by an electrophoretic membrane; (b) selecting a buffer for the first solvent stream having a required pH; (c) applying an electric potential between the two solvent streams causing movement of the biomolecule through the membrane into the second solvent stream while the biological contaminant is substantially retained in the first sample stream, or if entering the membrane, being substantially prevented from entering the second solvent stream; (d) optionally, periodically stopping and reversing the electric potential to cause movement of any biological contaminants having entered the membrane to move back into the first solvent stream, wherein substantially not causing any biomolecules that have entered the second solvent st