ELECTRO-ULTRAFILTER FOR INDUSTRIAL USE D. v. KLOBUSITZKY Division of Physical Chemistry, Instituto Butantan, Sdo Paulo, Brasil
Received July 29, 1958
Some years ago we gave a description of an electro-ultrafilter (1). This apparatus was intended for a capacity of 500 cc. The production of
FIG.1. Electro-ultrafilter. 1, suction receiver; 2, layer of collodion; 3, receiver for serum; 4, parchment bag; 5, glass bars; 6, silver electrode; 7, receiver for water.
serum for therapeutic use by means of electrodialysis is not only an economy of time, but it is also, from the medical point of view, of great advantage because of the thorough elimination of the euglobulin and the 823
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other labile and therefore, from the immunologic standpoint, unnecessary albumins (2). For these reasons we have constructed an electro-ultrafilter of greater capacity. The apparatus has worked satisfactorily in the concentration of sera. Its construction is shown in figure 1. For the reception of the serum a container (3) of porcelain is used, which has the form of a tumbler and is of 51. size. The bottom of this receiver is unglazed, but the walls are glazed. A well-fitting parchment bag (4) is placed in this receiver. In order to keep the parchment close to the wall of the receiver, a basket-like support (5) made of glass bars is used. For the first filtration and for the removal of the water, a smaller receiver is used, also with unglazed bottom. This smaller receiver (1) is supported in such manner that only two-thirds of it is placed in the larger one. The lower part of the outside of this smaller receiver is covered with a layer of a 10 per cent solution of collodion in glacial acetic acid. The top of it is hermetically sealed by means of a rubber stopper, containing two holes; through one hole the electrode passes, while the second is connected with a vacuum. The electrode consists of a platinum wire grating, with a platinum spiral, over which a glass tube is fused. The spiral is used for the purpose of passing the electrode to the bottom of the receiver. This is important, as the diameter of the anode is very small in proportion to that of the cathode. The cathode consists of a perforated silver plate,' the diameter of which is fastened by means of a rubber ring below the bottom of the larger receiver. The connection between the silver plate and the rubber ring must be made in such a manner that one can change the depth a t which the electrode is suspended in a water reservoir. Naturally the water as well as the serum must be stirred constantly. By means of this apparatus the volume of a previously dialyzed solution of pseudoglobulin can be reduced to 10 to 15 per cent in 24 to 36 hr. and the electroconductivity can be diminished to reciprocal ohms REFERENCES
(1) KLOBUBITZKY, D. v.: J. Phys. Chem. 36, 3189 (1932). D.v.: Ergeb. Hyg. Bakt. Immunitatsforach. Exptl. Therap. 22, (2) KLOBUBITZKY, 238 (1939). 1 Brass can be used instead of silver, the most advantageous form being a brass grating.
