Immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography: imidazole proton pump and chromatographic sequelae. I. Proton pump.

Complexation of imidazole (Im) with an iminodiacetate (IDA) metal chelate [IDA-M(II)] ligand of chelating gel results in an acidification of the mobile phase. The scope of the action of this IDA-M(II)Im 'proton pump' in IMAC is determined by: (a) IDA-M(II) density of the gel; (b) concentration of applied Im; and (c) the buffering capacity of the mobile phase. Application of Im onto a metal chelate column in a gradient rather than in a stepwise manner, mitigates the proton pump's action, as it does an increase of buffer concentration in the mobile phase. However, only an antecedent conversion of the metal chelate gel, IDA-M(II), to its Im derivative, IDA-M(II) Im, can effectively circumscribe the action of the proton pump. The same holds true, as anticipated, when another chelating ligand (nitrilotriacetate) is used.