I use solution of performic acid (30% hydrogen peroxide and 80% formic acid mixed 1:9) to solubilize a protein. Is it safe to separate the performic acid from the protein via freeze drying? Should the solution be diluted with water before freezing? I want only to cleave the protein's disulfide bonds and minimize the oxidative destruction of amino acids.
I think freeze drying may not be a suitable method. You can look at other methods. I think that the protein structure may be affected. The addition of water may further increase the problem.
Hello Antoni,
Callenges with this mixture for a standard lab freeze dryer include:
H2O2 will evolve O2
Performic acid is an organic acid.
Some of these will mix in the vacuum pump, hot and mechanical = fire risk.
The O2 will also damage via oxidation some of the elastomer seals in the system. Performic acid is not nice for the vacuum pump or the plastic parts of the system.
Equally I do not know if Performic acid will freeze. At RTP it freezes at -18°C. It has a low boiling point so will come off easily, the question is, will the sample remain frozen under vacuum, only?
I agree with Gürhan Abuhanoğlu that an alternative method is found. However, cehck the chemical compatability of your column or spin membranes.
Kind regards,
Rob
Gürhan Abuhanoğlu Rob Darrington thank you for your answers. I would like to know what do you think about using gel filtration on Sephadex G-50 medium instead? If so, is water a proper mobile phase for that purpose? I'd greatly appreciate your advice.
King regards!
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Chemistry
- Sulfites
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Acids