proteinsaltingout
Proteinsaltingout is a common laboratory technique used for the purification and concentration of proteins. It relies on the principle that increasing the concentration of a salt in a solution will decrease the solubility of proteins. This phenomenon occurs because the added salt ions effectively compete with the protein molecules for interaction with water molecules. Water molecules are highly polar and readily solvate both salt ions and protein surfaces. When a high concentration of salt is present, the salt ions become preferentially hydrated, and fewer water molecules are available to form a hydration shell around the protein. This reduced hydration leads to a decrease in the electrostatic repulsion between protein molecules, allowing them to aggregate and precipitate out of solution.
The effectiveness of salting out depends on the type and concentration of the salt used, as well