Quantitative interpretation of concentration-dependent migration in gel chromatography of reversibly polymerizing solutes.

A theoretical expression is derived for concentration dependence of elution volume in the gel chromatography of a non-interacting solute. Experimental results for bovine serum albumin on Sephadex G-100 are shown to be in good agreement with the predicted gel-chromatographic behaviour. The theoretical treatment of concentration dependence is extended to include a solute undergoing rapid reversible polymerization (nA in equilibrium C). Computer simulation of gel-chromatographic data for monomer-dimer systems on Sephadex G-100 is used to illustrate the deficiencies of earlier empirical approaches, and also the potential of the present treatment, of allowing for non-chemical concentration dependence in gel chromatography of polymerizing solutes.