( Contributed by J. Messer...)Detection of Platinum Species in Plant Material by Preparative Isotachophoresis Using the Model 491 Prep Cell, Rev A

Contributed by J. Messerschmidt and F. Alt, Institut fr Spektrochemie und angewandte Spektroskopie, Bunsen-Kirchhoff- Str. 11, D-44139 Dortmund, Germany

Abstract
An isotachophoretic method is presented for the separation of platinum containing proteins from plant material in the Model 491 Prep Cell. Platinum-containing species in extracts of grass cultivations were first separated by gel chromatography, then by isotachophoresis. This combined separation procedure leads to an excellent separation unobtainable by other means. Isotachophoresis provides a useful preparative method that expands the separation capabilities of the Model 491 Prep Cell.

Introduction
Heavy metals are of great importance in environmental research. Besides the determination of baseline levels of trace elements in biological and environmental materials, the investigation of the bio-utilization of heavy metals is of increasing interest. Knowledge of the binding state and binding partners of an element in biological and physiological systems supplies information about its bio-availability and consequently of its toxicological and nutritional relevance.

A separation method for analysis of metal-containing species must fulfill at least two main criteria. It should work on a preparative scale because of the expected low concentrations of metals in native biological material. The method should also not impair the binding between trace elements and the organic components to be purified; that is, it must function under physiological conditions.

Platinum emission from cars with catalytic cleaning of the exhaust gases represents a newly added factor of environmenta
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