Concentration of Virus from Water by Electro-Osmosis and Forced-Flow Electrophoresis

A Canalco Model CF-3 Electrophoretic Filter/Concentrator (modified ter Bier) was used to concentrate Type 1 polio virus from water using ectro-osmotic and forced-flow electrophoretic principles. Using2 ectro-osmosis water can be removed at a rate of up to 0.8 ral/hr/cm membrane area. Under conditions of 12–14 V/cm (5–6 amps) and adjusted mping rates, 20 fold concentration, without virus loss, can be achieved. ring forced-flow electrophoresis, the virus, which is negatively charged an alkaline buffer, moves toward the positive pole. At 20 V/cm and th adjusted pumping rates, the best that could be achieved was a 3 fold ncentration of virus and a 10 fold dehydration. Virus spill-over at e cathode and/or virus adsorption at the anode accounted for the poor suits, but theoretically this can be overcome by adjustment of the V/cm upled with adjustment of the pumping rates. Voltage (30 V/cm) and rrent (6 amps) have no detrimental effects on viral stability. These chniques appear to be more rapid and gentle than other methods for ncentration of virus and could be scaled up for practical use.