Bioanalytical Separation Equipment for the Undergraduate Laboratories

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This project funds a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) apparatus and a capillary electrophoresis (CE) system. These bioanalytical separation instruments are being used in the following undergraduate laboratories: Biochemical and Environmental Analysis, Instrumental Techniques, Biochemistry Lab and Independent Study. Initially students are exposed to these instruments in the Biochemical and Environmental Analysis Lab, where they carry out HPLC analysis of metabolically important compounds in the urine or artificial sweeteners and additives in beverages. Students provide their own samples for the analysis. A simple experiment on CE is being introduced to demonstrate the power of protein separation using a coated capillary. A protein mixture consisting of lysozyme, ribonuclease A, cytochrome C, and myoglobin may be readily separated using free-zone capillary electrophoresis. In Instrumental Techniques, the students learn to optimize parameters and conditions to achieve high resolution for separations on these instruments. In Biochemistry Lab, students are introduced to the field of experimental biochemistry through a project study of a protein. The availability of HPLC and CE greatly affects the methods available for the preparation of the protein and the analysis of the purity of the isolated protein. As time becomes available outside of the formal courses, the instrument can also be used by students doing various independent research projects which are required of chemistry majors.