Isotachophoresis is a technique used in analytical chemistry to separate ions based on differences in their electrophoretic mobilities. The spelling of this word is derived from its components; iso, tacho, and phoresis. The first syllable, "iso", means equal or uniform. The second syllable, "tacho", comes from the Greek word tachos, meaning speed. The third syllable, "phoresis", comes from the Greek word phorēsis, meaning carrying or transportation. The phonetic transcription of isotachophoresis is [ˌaɪsoʊˌtækəfoʊˈriːsɪs].
Isotachophoresis is a technique used in analytical chemistry and biochemistry to separate and analyze ions in a solution. It is based on the principles of electrophoresis, a method that applies an electric field to move charged particles through a medium. Isotachophoresis involves the use of two or more buffers with different conductivities, which create a concentration gradient of ions along the separation path.
In isotachophoresis, the sample solution is injected between the leading buffer, having a lower ionic conductivity, and the trailing buffer, with a higher ionic conductivity. Under the influence of the electric field, the ions present in the sample migrate towards the region with the corresponding buffer of higher conductivity. As the ions move, they form zones or bands according to their unique mobilities, creating a characteristic pattern of separation. The speed at which the zones move is determined by the conductivity of the buffers.
The major advantage of isotachophoresis is its ability to concentrate and separate analytes that have a wide range of mobilities more efficiently and with higher resolution compared to traditional electrophoretic methods. It is considered a versatile and powerful tool for the analysis of complex mixtures such as proteins, peptides, amino acids, nucleic acids, and various ionic species.
Isotachophoresis finds application in a wide range of fields, including pharmaceuticals, environmental monitoring, food analysis, and clinical diagnostics. It enables the identification and quantification of analytes within a sample, contributing to the understanding of chemical processes and aiding in the development of new therapies or technologies.
The word "isotachophoresis" is derived from Greek roots.
The prefix "iso-" means "equal" or "same", indicating that the technique involves equal or same-speed movement of different ions or molecules.
The word "tacho-" is derived from the Greek word "tachos", which means "speed" or "velocity".
The suffix "-phoresis" comes from the Greek word "phorēsis", which means "carrying" or "transporting".
Therefore, "isotachophoresis" can be understood to mean "the equal-speed transportation of ions or molecules".