Pierce™ Protein Concentrator PES, 3K MWCO, 2-6 mL, 10 Concentrators - FAQs

View additional product information for Pierce™ Protein Concentrators PES, 3K or 5K MWCO, 0.5–100 mL - FAQs (88515, 88526, 88514, 88525, 88512, 88534)

12 product FAQs found

Besides precipitation with ammonium sulfate, what are some ways I can concentrate my protein sample?

You may remove excess solvent and smaller moieties by centrifugation through a microconcentrator. This will concentrate your protein sample.

(1) Choose microconcentrator tube (available from a variety of commercial suppliers) with a protein cutoff smaller than the molecular weight of the protein in the sample. Check our Pierce Protein Concentrators PES.

(2) Add 1 µL of 20% w/v SDS to a dry microconcentrator tube (if sample does not already contain SDS).

(3) Slowly add sample (a few microliters at a time) to membrane until membrane is completely wet. Centrifuge to near (but not complete) dryness.

(4) If intention is to desalt sample or buffer exchange: Add ~50 µL water to microconcentrator and spin until nearly dry. Repeat buffer exchange. Sample will remain on membrane. Check our Zeba desalting proteins.

(5) Using a new collection tube, invert membrane and spin at low speed (1000 x g) to elute protein from membrane. Add 2X SDS-Sample Buffer containing 10 mM DTT to membrane: vortex, invert and spin. Final volume should be ~20 µL.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Dialysis, Desalting, and Concentration Support Center.

Can I autoclave PES protein concentrators?

We do not recommend autoclaving the PES protein concentrators. High temperatures will significantly increase the membrane molecular weight cutoff (MWCO). To sterilize, we recommend using a 70% ethanol solution.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Assays and Analysis Support Center.

Can I use PES protein concentrators for desalting and buffer exchange?

Yes, the PES membrane is compatible with desalting and buffer exchange. Protocols for concentrating, desalting, and buffer exchange only are provided in the product manuals.

How do PES protein concentrators work?

The protein concentrator columns have an upper compartment that holds the sample, and a lower compartment. The two compartments are separated by a polyethersulfone (PES) semipermeable membrane. Centrifugation is applied to force solvent through the membrane, leaving a more concentrated sample in the upper chamber. The protein concentrator cassettes also contain a PES membrane and a unique channel design that ensures high optimal flux with no optimization effort. Unlike other systems, the fluid is passed parallel to the filter, rather than being pushed through a membrane perpendicularly, which can clog the filter. For maximum protein recovery in both columns and cassettes, samples should have a molecular weight two-fold greater than the molecular weight cutoff (MWCO) of the concentrator membrane.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Assays and Analysis Support Center.

What are the different sizes of PES protein concentrators you offer?

Pierce polyethersulfone (PES) protein concentrators are offered in six distinct MWCOs of 3K, 5k, 10K, 30K, 50K, and 100K, and the cassettes are offered in five membrane MWCOs of 3K, 10K, 30K, 50K, and 100K. The columns can process four different sample volumes ranges of 100-500 µL, 2-6 mL, 5-20 mL, and 20-100 mL, while the cassettes can process 0.5-6 L. Please see our selection chart and video found here (https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/protein-biology/protein-purification-isolation/protein-dialysis-desalting-concentration/protein-concentrators.html).

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Assays and Analysis Support Center.

I labeled my protein with your kit, but now it‘s too dilute for my application. What should I do?

There are different ways to concentrate your protein. These include:

Centrifugation (filtration) using concentrators
Dialysis
Lyophilization
Precipitation

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Purification and Isolation Support Center.

I used your PES concentrators but recovered less than 50% of my proteins. What could have happened?

In order to obtain a high protein recovery (greater than 90%) when using the PES concentrators, make sure your protein of interest has at least a 2-fold higher molecular weight than the MWCO of the concentrator. For example, use a 5 K MWCO device for a greater than 10 kDa protein.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Dialysis, Desalting, and Concentration Support Center.

How long does it take to concentrate my sample using Pierce protein concentrator?

Typically, samples can be concentrated up to 10- to 30-fold in 5-30 mins. The cassettes can concentrate volumes ranging from 0.5-6 L in under one hour. Times may vary for different MWCOs and the buffer composition of the sample, as well as the total sample volume being processed.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Dialysis, Desalting, and Concentration Support Center.

What sizes of Pierce protein concentrators do you offer?

The products are available in five sizes (0.5 mL, 6 mL, 20 mL, and 100 mL, and 500mL - 6L) with a range of molecular weight cutoffs (MWCOs): 3K, 5K, 10K, 30K, 50K, and 100K. See our selection chart - https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/protein-biology/protein-purification-isolation/protein-dialysis-desalting-concentration/protein-concentrators.html.

Find additional tips, troubleshooting help, and resources within our Protein Dialysis, Desalting, and Concentration Support Center.

How do I select the right Pierce Protein Concentrator for my experiments?

Please view our selection table (https://www.thermofisher.com/us/en/home/life-science/protein-biology/protein-purification-isolation/protein-dialysis-desalting-concentration/protein-concentrators.html) to choose the right protein concentrator to fit your needs.

How does a protein concentrator work compared to dialysis?

Protein concentrators use ultrafiltration: hydrostatic pressure forcing a liquid against a semi-permeable membrane, with larger molecules retained within the unit. Dialysis works via diffusion across a semi-permeable membrane.

What is the membrane in the Pierce Protein Concentrators that you offer?

The Pierce concentrators are available with a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane, and are available in 0.5, 6, 20, and 100 mL volume capacities, with 3K or 5K, 10K, 30K, and 100K MWCOs.