Monitoring with robot electrophoresis

Prototype electrophoresis equipment that can operate without human intervention has been developed by a team of Swiss scientists.

The researchers, headed by Peter Hauser of the University of Basel, used the equipment to detect and monitor inorganic ions in rainfall run-off from farm pasture. The water was contaminated by animal manure. By injecting samples in at both ends of an electrophoresis column at the same time, simultaneous detection of both anions and cations could be obtained with a resolution of 10 minutes. Human intervention was only necessary after one hour when the separation column was flushed through with electrolyte. The team hope to automate this procedure.

Ian Farrell