Abstract
Electrophoresis simulation program Simul 5 has been extended to simulate isoelectric trapping (IET) separations that take place in recirculating multicompartmental electrolyzers (MCEs). The simulated separation space can be divided into multiple segments/compartments that may have identical or different cross sections.
A new algorithm simulates convective mixing that occurs in the recirculating MCEs. The intensity of simulated mixing can be independently controlled in each compartment. pH transients that were reported to occur during the desalting step in IET separations were simulated with the extended Simul 5 program: the main features of the experimental results were reproduced by the simulations.
The simulations shed light on the possible causes of uneven anion and cation removal rates, pH transients and the transient invasion of the separation compartment by components of the electrode solutions that might occur during the desalting step.