The influence of electrostatic interactions on partition in aqueous polyethylene glycol/dextran biphasic systems:...

In aqueous polyethylene glycol/dextran two-phase systems, the hydrophobicity, free volume, surface tension, and interfacial tension of the phases in equilibrium were measured as a function of pH and ionic strength. These parameters were found to change with pH, but the pattern and magnitude cannot explain the unusual partition of charged macromolecules, observed previously. The electrostatic potential difference was determined by a new experimental approach based on the measurement of the pH difference between the phases at equilibrium. In polyethylene glycol/dextran systems containing sodium chloride as ionized species, the electrostatic potential is not constant in the pH range 2 to 11. The partition behavior of charged macromolecules and its dependence on pH can be explained by the combined action of charge and phase potential. This conclusion was tested with poly-L-glutamate, which partitioned as predicted and in a pattern opposite to positively charged macro- molecules. (c) 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.