Patent ID: 8585884

Claim:
An apparatus for the separation of proteins, comprising: a capillary isoelectric focusing unit for primarily separating protein samples on a basis of pI, the capillary isoelectric focusing unit comprising: an isoelectric focusing capillary having a first end and a second end; a first coupling having a first end, a second end, and a third end, the first end of the first coupling connected to the first end of the isoelectric focusing capillary; a first injection pump connected to the second end of the first coupling for injecting a mixture of protein samples and ampholytes; a second coupling having a first end, a second end, and a third end, the first end of the second coupling connected to the third end of the first coupling; a second injection pump connected to the second end of the second coupling for injecting an ampholyte solution; an anode connected to the third end of the second coupling; a third coupling having a first end, a second end, and a third end, the first end of the third coupling connected to the second end of the isoelectric focusing capillary; a fourth coupling having a first end, a second end, and a third end, the second end of the fourth coupling connected to the second end of the third coupling; a catholyte storage unit connected to the first end of the fourth coupling; and a cathode connected to the third end of the fourth coupling opposite the catholyte storage unit; and a hollow fiber flow field flow fractionation unit, connected to the third end of the third coupling of the capillary isoelectric focusing unit via a sample loop having a first port and a second port for secondarily separating the protein samples; wherein the sample loop is in fluid communication with the third end of the third coupling of the capillary isoelectric focusing unit via the first port of the sample loop; and wherein the sample loop is in fluid communication with the hollow fiber flow field flow fractionation unit via the second port of the sample loop.