I want to remove low molecular weight compounds (LMWC) from a sample through dialysis (MWCO 1 kDa). For both the sample and dialysis solution I am using sterile artificial seawater (i.e. same pH and salinity), and I add freeze-dried organic matter to the sample.
I was wondering if there is a risk of adding too much sample, so that the difference in concentration between the sample and dialysis solution becomes too large and might damage the pores of the dialysis tubing?
Guidance from personal experience of relevant literature is much appreciated!
The real concern is that the difference in osmolarity between the inside and outside will cause the sample in the bag to increase in volume so much that the bag bursts or the ends leak. I have seen dialysis bags swell up quite a lot, but I don't recall ever bursting one. Dialysis tubing is pretty tough. It's a good idea to leave some head space for sample expansion, and make sure both ends of the tubing are thoroughly tied or clamped. If you are using a cassette dialyzer, make sure it is not already very full at the start.
Indirectly it can due to swelling up of large molecular weight solutes due to pressure differences howevr due to osmosis directly dependent on net filtration it cannot.
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